./ 



<1^ ^ 



/^ e.- 



3f 



THE 

LIFE, HISTOEY, AID TRAVELS, 

OF 

KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH 

(GEORGE COPWAY), 

A YOUNG INDIAN CHIEF OF THE OJEBWA NATION, 

A CONVERT TO THE CHRISTIAN FAITH, AND A MISSIONARY 
TO HIS PEOPLE FOR TWELVE YEARS ; 

WITH A 

SKETCH OF THE PRESENT STATE OF THE OJEBWA NATION, 

IN KEGARD TO 

CHRISTIANITY AND THEIR FUTURE PROSPECTS. 
ALSO AN APPEAL; 

WITH ALL THE NAMES OF THE CHIEFS NOW LIVING, WHO HAVE 

BEEN CHRISTIANIZED, AND THE MISSIONARIES NOW 

LABORING AMONG THEM. 

WRITTEN BY HIMSELF. 

ALBANY : 

PRINTED BY WEED AND PARSONS. 

1847. 






Entered according to Acl of Congress, on the 9lli day of December, IS46, 

BV GEORGE COPWAV, 

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Northern Distiict of the State of 
New- York. 



TO 



THE CLERGY AND LAITY 

O I' THE 

AMERICAN AND BRITISH DOMINIONS, 

THIS BRIEF 

HISTORY OP A CHILD OF THE FOREST, 

AND OF 

HIS NATION, 

IS MOST RESPECTFULLY AND AFFECTIONATELY 

INSCRIBED 

BY 

T H F. AUTHOR. 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE. 

Preface, 5 

CHAPTER I. Early life; Woods; Gods; Ojebwa Nation, etc 7 

" II. Customs; Father and Mother ; Religion of Ojebwas, 23 

" III. Spirits; Ojebwa Worship ; Description, etc 36 

" IV. Omens ; Dreams ; Anecdote ; Devil's Spittle, 48 

" V. Traditions; Indians and Jews ; Migration; Councils, 55 

" VI. Description of Rice Lake ; Rice ; Fish ; Village, etc. 65 

" VII. Missionaries first visit ; Conversion ; Camp Meeting, 70 
" VIII. My Mother's conversion and happy death ; Grief, . . 78 
" IX. My Conversion ; Beauty of Nature ; Lake Superior, 83 
" X. Kewav^enon Mission ; Work Spread; Old Anna,.. 93 

" XI. Travels to La Pointe; Ottawa Lake; Battle Grounds, 106 
" XII. Sent to School, 111., two years ; New-York; Boston, 117 
" XIII. Return to Canada; Revivals; Cliristmas; New- Year, 136 

" XIV. Wisconsin; Mississippi; Sufferings, 164 

" XV. Travels to Canada ; Presbyterian Missionaries ; Tri- 
als; Paid by Government; Journey to Toronto, 179 
" XVI. General Council ; Speeches ; Order ; Documents, 
etc.; Manual Labor School; Plan, or Remedy 

for the preservation of the different tribes, 188 

" XVII. Geographical Sketch of the Ojebwa Nation; Mis- 
sions ; Presbyterians ; Methodists ; Baptists ; Ap- 
peal to Christians in America, 203 



VI. CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

1 . Chippewas on the River Thames, 207 

2. Chippewas at Amherstburg, 208 

3. Chippewas of St. Clair, 209 

4. Chippewas at Walpole Island, 210 

5. Chippewas of the River Credit, 210 

6. Chippewas of Alnwick, 211 

7. Chippewas at Rice Lake, 212 

8. Chippewas at Mud Lake, 212 

9. Chippewas at Balsam Lake, 213 

1 0. Chippewas of Rama, 213 

11. Chippewas of Beausoliel Island, Matchadisk Bay, Lake Huron, 214 

12. Chippewas of Snake Island, Lake Simcoe, 215 

13. Chippewas of Saugeeng (Lake Huron), 215 

14. Chippewas of Big Bay, in Owen's Sound, Lake Huron, 216 

15. Chippewas and others, in the Township of Bedford, 216 



A WORD TO THE READER. 

It would be presumptuous in one, who has but recently been 
brought out of a wild and savage state ; and who has since 
received but three years' schooling, to undertake, without any 
assistance, to publish to the world a work of any kind. It is 
but a few years since I began to speak the English language. 
An unexpected opportunity occurred of submitting my manu- 
script to a friend, who has kindly corrected all serious grammati- 
cal errors, leaving the unimportant ones wholly untouched, that 
my own style may be exhibited as truly as possible. The 
public, the printers, and myself, are indebted to him for his 
kind aid, and he has my most sincere thanks. The Printers, 
also, will accept my hearty thanks for their kind indulgence in 
affording me every facility in their power, in bringing out the 
work in so short a time, and for * getting it up ' with so much 
neatness. The language (except in a few short sentences), the 
plan, and the arrangement are all my own ; and I am whol- 
ly responsible for all the statements, and the remaining de- 
fects. My work is now accomplished ; and I am too well 
aware of the many faults which are still to be found therein. 
Little could I imagine, that I should have to contend with so 



VII. A WORD TO THE READER. 

many obstacles. All along, have I felt my great deficiency ; 
and my inadequacy for such an undertaking. I would fain 
hope, however, that the kind Reader will throw the mantle of 
charity over errors of every kind. I am a stranger in a strange 
land ! And often, when the sun is sinking in the western sky, 
I think of my former home ; my heart yearns for the loved of 
other days, and tears flow like the summer rain. How the 
heart of the wanderer and pilgrim, after long years of absence, 
beats, and his eyes fill, as he catches a glance at the hills of 
his nativity, and reflects upon the time when he pressed the 
lips of a Mother, or Sister, now cold in death. Should I live, 
this painful pleasure will yet be mine. Blessed be the Lord, 
who hath helped me hitherto." 

KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH, 

ALIAS 

GEORGE COPWAY- 

Albany, January, 1847. 



PREFACE. 



In presenting my life to the public, I do so 
with the greatest diffidence, and at the earnest 
solicitation of numerous friends. I am an In- 
dian, and am well aware of the difficulties I 
have to encounter to win the favorable notice of 
the white man. Yet one great object prompts 
me to persevere, and that is, that I may, in con- 
nection with my life, present the present state 
and prospects of my poor countrymen — feeling 
that the friends of humanity may still labor and 
direct their benevolence to those who were once 
the lords of the land on which the white man 
lives — and assist in rescuing them from an un- 
tiniely and unchristian grave. 

I have noticed some of our prominent chiefs 
now living; the missionaries laboring amongst 
my people; the extent of the missionary field; 



O PREFACE. 

and an appeal to all who feel interested in the 
welfare of the Indian race. 

If ever I see the day when my people shall 
hecome happy and prosperous, I shall then feel 
great and lasting pleasure, which will more than 
repay me for the pain, both of body and mind, 
which I have endured for the last twelve years. 
My motto is — " 3Iij poor People.''^ 

In all my crooked paths, I have endeavored to 
mean well. I thank my friends for their kind 
gifts and wishes. Yet still as much, and more, 
remains to be accomplished. 

Pray for us - — that religion and science may lead 
us on to intelligence and virtue; that we may 
imitate the good white man, who, like the eagle, 
builds its nest on the top of some high rock — 
science ; that we may educate our children, and 
turn their minds to God. Help us, O help us to 
live — and teach us to die a christian's death, 
that our spirits may mingle with the blessed 
above. 

KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 



THE LIFE OF 

KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 



CHAPTER I. 

The Christian will no doubt feel for my poor 
people, when he hears the story of one brought 
from that unfortunate race called the Indians. 
The lover of humanity will be glad to see that 
that once powerful race can be made to enjoy 
the blessings of life. 

What was once impossible — or rather thought 
to he- — is made possible through my experience. 
I have made many close observations of men, 
and things around me ; but, I regret to say, that 
I do not think I have made as good use of my 
opportunities as I might have done. It will be 
seen that I know but little ^ — yet O how precious 
that little!' — I would rather loose my right hand 
than be deprived of it. 



8 THE LIFE OF 

I loved the woods, and the chase. I had the 
nature for it, and gloried in nothing else. The 
mind for letters was in me, but was asleep, till the 
dawn of Christianity arose, and awoke the sluni'- 
hers of the soul into energy and action. 

You will see that I served the imaginary gods 
of my poor hlind father. I was out early and late 
in quest of the favors of the Mon-e-doos (spirits), 
who, it was said, were numerous — who filled the 
air ! At early dawn I watched the rising of the 
palace of the Great Spirit ■ — the sun — who, it was 
said, made the world! 

Early as I can recollect, I was taught that 
it was the gift of the many spirits to be a good 
hunter and warrior; and much of my time I de- 
voted in search of their favors. On the moun- 
tain top, or along the valley, or the water brook, 
I searched for some kind intimation from the spi- 
rits who made their residence in the noise of 
the water falls. 

I dreaded to hear the voice of the angry spirit 
in the gathering clouds. I looked v/ith anxiety 
to catch a glimpse of the wings of the Great 
Spirit, who shrouded himself in rolling white 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 9 

and dark clouds ■ — ^who, with his wings, fan- 
ned the earth, and laid low the tall pines and 
hemlock in his course — ■ who rode in whirlwinds 
and tornadoes, and plucked the trees from their 
woven roots ■ — who chased other gods from his 
course — who drove the Bad Spirit from the sur- 
face of the earth, down to the dark caverns of 
the deep. Yet he was a kind spirit. My father 
taught me to call that spmt Ke-sha-mon-e-doo — 
Benevolent spirit — for his ancestors taught him 
no other name to give to that spirit who made 
the earth, with all its variety and smiling beauty. 
His benevolence I saw in the running of the 
streams, for the animals to quench their thirst 
and the fishes to live; the fruit of the earth 
teemed wherever I looked. Every thing I saAv 
smilingly said Ke-sha-mon-e-doo nin-ge-oo-she-ig 
— the Benevolent spirit made me. 

Where is he ? My father pointed to the sun. 
What is his will concerning me, and the rest of 
the Indian race? This was a question that I 
found no one could answer, until a beam from 
heaven shone on my pathway, which was very 
dark, when first I saw that there was a true hea- 



10 THE LIFE OF 

ven — not in the far-setting sun, where the In- 
dian anticipated a rest, a home for his spirit — 
but in the bosom of the Highest. 

I view my life like the mariner on the wide 
ocean, without a compass, in the dark night, as 
he watches the heavens for the north star, which 
his eye having discovered, he makes his way 
amidst surging seas, and tossed by angry billows 
into the very jaws of death, till he arrives safely 
anchored at port. I have been tossed Avith hope 
and fear in this life ; no star-light shone on my 
way, until the men of God pointed me to a Star 
in the East, as it arose with all its splendor and 
glory. It v/as the Star of Bethlehem. I could 
now say in the language of the poet — 

" Once on the raging seas I rode, 

The storm was loud, the night was dark ; 
The ocean yawned, and rudely blowed 

The wind that tossed my foundered bark." 

Yes, I hope to sing some day in the realms of 
bliss — 

" It was my guide, my light, my all f 
It bade my dai-k foreboding cease ; 
And through the storms and danger's thrawl, 
It led me to the port of peace." 

I have not the happiness of being able to refer 
to written records in narrating the history of my 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 11 

forefathers ; but I can reveal to the world what 
has long been laid up in my memory; so that 
when "I go the way of all the earth," the crook- 
ed and singular paths which I have made in the 
world, may not only be a warning to others, but 
may inspire them with a trust in God. And not 
only a warning and a trust, but also that the world 
d may learn that there once lived such a man as 
Kah-ge-ga-gah-bowh, when they read his griefs 
and his joys. 

My parents were of the Ojebwa nation, who 
lived on the lake back of Cobourg, on the shores 
of Lake Ontario, Canada West. The lake called 
Rice Lake, where there was a great quantity of 
wild rice, and much game of different kinds, 
before the whites cleared away the woods, where 
the deer and the bear then resorted. 

My father and mother were taught the religion 
of their nation. My father became a medicine 
man in the early part of his life, and always had 
by him the implements of war, which generally 
distinguish our head men. He was as good a 
hunter as any in the tribe. Very few brought 
more furs than he did in the spring. Every 



12 THE LIFE OF 

spring they returned from their hunting grounds. 
The Ojebwas each claimed, and claim to this 
day, hunting grounds, riyers, lakes, and whole 
districts of country. No one hunted on each 
other's ground. My father had the northern fork 
of the river Trent, above Bellmont lake. 

My great-grandfather was the first who ven- 
tured to settle at Rice Lake, after the Ojebwa na- 
tion defeated the Hurons, who once inhabited all 
the lakes in Western Canada, and who had a 
large village just on the top of the hUl of the An- 
derson farm, (which was afterwards occupied by 
the Ojebwas,) and which furnished a magnificent 
view of the lakes and surrounding country. He 
was of the Crane tribe, i. e. had a crane for his to- 
tem — coat o/* arms— which now forms the totem 
of the villagers, excepting those who have since 
come amongst us from other villages by intermar- 
riage, for there was a law that no one was to 
marry one of the same totem, for all considered 
each other as being related. He must have been a 
daring adventurer — a warrior — for no one would 
have ventured to go and settle down on the land 
from which they had just driven the Hurons, 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 13 

whom the Ojebwas conquered and reduced, un- 
less he was a great hero. It is said that he lived 
about the islands of Rice Lake, secreting himself 
from the enemy for several years, until some others 
came and joined him, when they formed a settle- 
ment on one of the islands. He must have been 
a great hunter, for this was one of the principal 
inducements that made him venture there, for 
there must have been abundance of game of 
every kind. The Ojebwas are called, here and 
all around, Massissaugays, because they came 
from Me-sey Sah-gieng, at the head of Lake Hu- 
ron, as you go up to Sault St. Marie falls. 

Here he lived in jeopardy — with his life in his 
hand — enduring the unpleasant idea that he 
lived in the land of bones — amidst the gloom, 
which shrouded the once happy and populous 
village of the Hurons ; here their bones lay broad- 
cast around his wigwam; where, among these 
woods once rang the war cry of the Hurons, echo- 
ing along the valley of the river Trent, but whose 
sinewed arms now laid low, with their badges 
and arms of war, in one common grave, near 
the residence of Peter Anderson, Esq. Their 



14 THE LIFE OF 

graves, forming a hillock, are now all that remain 
of this once powerful nation. Their bones, gun 
barrels, tomahaAvks, war spears, large scalping 
knives, are yet to be found there. This must 
have taken place soon after the formation of the 
settlement in Quebec. 

The Crane tribe became the sole proprietors of 
this part of the Ojebwa land ; the descendants of 
this tribe will continue to wear the distinguish- 
ing sign; except in a few instances, the chiefs 
are of this tribe. 

My grandfather lived here about this time, and 
held some friendly intercourse with the whites. 
My father here learned the manners, customs, and 
worship of the nation. He, and others, became 
acquainted with the early settlers, and have ever 
been friendly with the whites. And I know the 
the day when he used to shake the hand of the 
white man, and, very friendly, the white man 
would say, " take some whiskey J' When he saw 
any hungering for venison, he gave them to eat ; 
and some, in return for his kindness, have repaid 
him after they became good and great farmers. 

My mother was of the Eagle tribe ; she was a 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 15 

sensible woman; she was as good a hunter as 
any of the Indians ; she could shoot the deer, and 
the ducks fl3dng", as well as they. Nature had 
done a great deal for her, for she was active ; and 
she was much more cleanly than the majority of 
our women in those days. She lived to see the 
day when most of her children were given up to 
the Lord in christian baptism ; while she experi- 
enced a change of heart, and the fullness of God 
in man, for she lived daily in the enjoyment of 
God's favors. I will speak more of her at a proper 
time, respecting her life and happy death. 

My father still lives; he is from sixty-five to 
seventy years old, and is one of the chiefs of Rice 
Lake Indian Village. He used to love fire-water 
before he was converted to God, but now lives in 
the enjoyment of religion, and he is happy with- 
out the devil's spittle — lohiskeij. If Christianity 
had not come, and the grace of God had not 
taken possession of his heart, his head would soon 
have been laid low beneath the fallen leaves of 
the forest, and I, left, in my youthful days, an 
orphan. But to God be all the praise for his time- 
ly deliverance. 



16 THE LIFE OF 

The reader will see that I cannot boast of an 
exalted parentage, nor trace th§ past history to 
some renowned warrior in days of yore, but let 
the above suffice. My fathers were those who 
endured much ; who first took possession of the 
conquered lands of the Hurons. 

I was born in nature's wide dojnain ! The trees 
were all that sheltered my infant limbs — the blue 
heavens all that covered me. T am one of na- 
ture's children ; I have always admired her ; she 
shall be my gloiy; her features — her robes, and 
the wreath about her brow — the seasons — her 
stately oaks, and the evergreen — her hair — ring- 
lets over the earth, all contribute to my enduring 
love of her ; and wherever I see her, emotions of 
pleasure roll in my breast, and swell and burst 
like waves on the shores of the ocean, in prayer 
and praise to Him, who has placed me in her 
hand. It is thought great to be born in palaces, 
surrounded with wealth — but to be born in na- 
ture's wide domain is greater still ! 

I was born sometime in the fall of 1818, near 

the mouth of the river Trent, called in our lan- 

v guage, Sah-ge-dah-we-ge-wah-noong, while my 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 17 

father and mother were attending the annual dis- 
tribution of the presents from the goverrmient to 
the Indians. I was the third of our family ; a 
brother and sister being older, both of whom died. 
My brother died without the knowledge of the 
Saviour, but my sister experienced the power of 
the loving grace of God. One brother, and two 
step-brothers, are still alive. 

I remember the tall trees, and the dark woods 

— the swamp just by, where the little wren sang 
so melodiously after the going down of the sun 
in the west — the current of the broad river Trent 

— the skipping of the fish, and the noise of the 
rapids a little above. It was here I first saw the 
fight ; a little fallen-down shelter, made of ever- 
greens, and a few dead embers, the remains of 
the last fire that shed its genial warmth around, 
were all that marked the spot. When I last vi- 
sited it, nothing but fur poles stuck in the ground, 
and they were leaning on account of decay. Ls 
this dear spot, made green by the tears of me- 
mory, any less enticing and hallowed than the 
palaces where princes are born ? I would much 
more glory in this birth-place, with the broad ca- 



18 THE UFE OF 

nopy of heaven above me, and the giant arms of 
the forest trees for my shelter, than to be born in 
palaces of marble, studded with pillars of gold ! 
Nature will be nature still, while palaces shall 
decay and fall in ruins. Yes, Niagara will be 
Niagara a thousand years hence ! the rainbow, 
a wreath over her brow, shall continue as long as 
the sun, and the flowing of the river! "While 
the work of art, however impregnable, shall in 
atoms fall. 

Our wigwam we always carried with us wher- 
ever we went. It was made in the following 
manner: Poles were cut about fifteen feet long; 
three with crotches at the end, which were stuck 
in the ground some distance apart, the upper 
ends meeting, and fastened with bark ; and then 
other poles were cut in circular form and bound 
round the first, and then covered with plaited 
reeds, or sewed birch bark, leaving an opening on 
top for the smoke to escape. The skins of ani- 
mals formed a covering for a gap, which answered 
for a door. The family all seated tailor-fashion 
on mats. In the fall and winter they were gene- 
rally made more secure, for the purpose of keep- 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 19 

ing out the rain and cold. The covering of our 
wigwam was always carried by my mother, when- 
ever we went through the woods. In the sum- 
mer it was easier and pleasanter to move about 
from place to place, than in the winter. In the 
summer we had birch bark canoes, and with these 
we traveled very rapidly and easily. In the win- 
ter every thing was carried upon the back. I 
have known some Indians to carry a whole deer — 
not a small one, but a buck. If an Indian could 
hft up his pack off the ground by means of his 
arms, it was a good load, not too light nor too 
heavy. I once carried one hundred and ninety- 
six weight of flour, tv/elve pounds of shot, five 
pounds of coffee, and some sugar, about a quarter 
of a mile, without resting — the flour was in two 
bags. It felt very heavy. This was since I tra- 
veled "svith the missionaries, in going over one of 
the portages in the west. 

Our summer houses were made like those in 
gardens among the whites, except that the skele- 
ton is covered with bark. 

The hunting grounds of the Indians were se- 
cured by right, a law and custom among them- 



20 THE LIFE OF 

selves. No one was allowed to hunt on another's 
land, without invitation or permission. If any 
person was found trespassing on the ground of 
another, all his things were taken from him, ex- 
cept a hand full of shot, powder sufficient to serve 
him in going straight home, a gun, a tomahawk, 
and a knife ; all the fur, and other things, were 
taken from him. If he were found a second time 
trespassing, all his things were taken away from 
him, except food sufficient to suhsist on while go- 
ing home. And should he still come a third time 
to trespass on the same, or another man's hunting 
grounds, his nation, or tribe, are then informed 
of it, who take up his case. If still he disobey, he 
is banished from his tribe. 

My father's hunting ground was at the head of 
Crow River, a branch of the River Trent, north 
of the Prince Edward District, Canada West. 
There are two branches to this river — one belongs 
to George Poudash, one of the principal chiefs of 
our nation ; the other to my father ; and the Crow 
River belongs to another chief by the name of 
John Crow. During the last war the Indians did 
not hunt or fish much for nearly six years, and 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 21 

at the end of that time there were large quantities 
of beaver, otter, minks, lynx, fishes, &c. 

These hunting grounds abound with rivers and 
lakes; the face of the country is swampy and 
rocky; the deer and the bear abound in these 
woods ; part of the surrendered territory is includ- 
ed in it. In the year 1818, 1,800,000 acres of it 
were surrendered to the British government. For 
how much, do you ask ? For $2,960 per annum ! 
What a great sum for British generosity ! 

Much of the back country still remains unsold, 
and I hope the scales will be removed from the 
eyes of my poor countrymen, that they may see 
the robberies perpetrated upon them, before they 
surrender another foot of territory. 

From these lakes and rivers come the best furs 
that are caught in Western Canada. Buyers of fur 
get large quantities from here. They are then 
shipped to New- York city, or to England. When- 
ever fruit is plenty, bears are also plenty, and 
there is much bear hunting. Before the whites 
came amongst us, the skins of these animals 
served for clothing ; they are now sold from three 
to eight dollars a piece. 



22 THE LIFE OF 

My father generally took one or two families 
with him when he went to hmit; all were to 
hunt, and place their gains into one common 
stock till spring (for they were often out all win- 
ter), when a division took place. 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 23 



CHAPTER II. 



In the fall we gathered the wild rice, and in 
the winter we were in the interior. Some win- 
ters we suffered most severely, on account of the 
depth of snow, and the cold ; our wigwams were 
often buried in snow. We not only suffered 
from the snow and the cold, but from hunger. 
Our party would be unable to hunt, and being far 
from the white settlements, we were often in 
want of food. I Avill narrate a circumstance of 
our sufferings, when I come to speak of the actual 
condition of our people, before Christianity was 
introduced among us, which, when I think of it, 
I can not but bless God for his preserving kindness 
to us, in sparing us to hear his blessed word. 

Soon after being christianized, my father and 
another Indian, by the name of Big John, and 
myself, went out hunting; my father left his 
family near the mission station, living in the 



24 THE LIFE OF 

wigwam- While we were out on the hunting 
grounds, we found out that some Indians had 
gone before us on the route up the rivet, and every 
day we gained upon them; their tracks were 
fresh. The river and the lakes were frozen, and 
we had to walk on the ice. For some days toge- 
ther we did not fire a gun, for fear they would 
hear it and go from us, where we could not find 
them. At length we found them by the banks of 
the river ; they were Nah-doo-ways or Mohawks, 
from Bay Quinty; there were seven of them, 
tall fellows. We shook hands with them ; they 
received us kindly. My father had determined 
to take all they had, if we should overtake them. 
After they gave us a good dinner of boiled bea- 
ver, my father stepped across the fire and ripped 
open two packs of beaver furs, that were just by 
him. He said to them " We have only one 
custom among us, and that is well known to 
all ; this river, and all that is in it are mine ; I 
have come up the river behind you, and you ap- 
pear to have killed all before you. This is mine, 
and this is is mine," he said, as he touched Avith 
the handle of his tomahawk each of the packs 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 25 

of beaver, otter, and muskrat skins. I expected 
every moment to see my father knocked down 
with a tomahawk, but none dared touch him ; 
he counted the skins and then threw them across 
the fire-place to us. After this was done, the same 
thing took place with the guns; only one was 
left them to use on their way home. He talked 
to them by signs, and bade them, as the sailors 
say, "weigh anchor and soon be under way"; 
they left, and we took possession of the temporary 
wigwam they had built. We never saw them af- 
terwards on our hunting grounds, though some of 
them have been there since. 

My father was ever kind and affectionate to me, 
particularly after the death of my brother, which 
was occasioned by the going off of a gun, the load 
passing through the arm and so fractured it that it 
soon mortified and caused his death. He be- 
lieved in persuasion ; I know not that he ever 
used harsh means, but would talk to me for hours 
together. As soon as it was dark he would call 
me to his side and begin to talk, and tell me that 
the Great Spirit would bless me with a long life 
if I should love my friends, and particularly the 



26 THE LIFE OF 

aged. He would always take me with him 
when going any where near, and I learned his 
movements, for I watched him going through the 
woods. Often would he tell me that when I 
should be a man that I must do so, and so, and do 
as he did, while fording the rivers, shooting the 
deer, trapping the beaver, etc., etc. I always 
imitated him while I was a hmiter. 

My mother was also kind and affectionate ; 
she seemed to be happy when she saw us enjoy- 
ing ourselves by her ; often she would not eat 
much for days together ; she would leave all for 
us ! She was an industrious woman ; in the spring 
she made more sugar than any one else; she 
was never idle while the season for gathering wild 
rice lasted. 

I was taught early to hunt the deer. It was a 
part of our father's duty to teach us how to handle 
the gun as well as the bow and arrow. I was 
early reminded to hunt for myself; a thirst to ex- 
cel in hunting began to increase ; no pains were 
spared, no fatigue was too great, and at all seasons 
I found somethmg to stimulate me to exertion, 
that I might become a good hunter. For years I 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 27 

followed my father, observed how he approached 
the deer, the manner of getting it upon his shoul- 
ders to carry it home. The appearance of the 
sky, the sound of distant water-falls in the morn- 
ing, the appearance of the clouds and the winds, 
were to be noticed. The step, and the gesture, 
in traveling in search of the deer, were to be ob- 
served. 

Many a lecture I received when the deer lay 
bleeding at the feet of my father ; he would give 
me an account of the nobleness of the hunter's 
deeds, and said that I should never be in want 
whenever there was any game, and that many a 
poor aged man could be assisted by me. " Tf 
you reverence the aged., many icill be glad to hear of 
your name,''^ were the words of my father. " The 
poor man will say to his children, ' my children, 
let us go to him, for he is a great hunter, and is 
kind to the poor, he will not turn us away empty.' 
The Great Spirit, who has given the aged a long 
life, Avill bless you. You must never laugh at 
any suffermg object, for you know not how soon 
you may be in the same condition : never kill any 
game needlessly." Such was his language when 



28 THE LIFE OF 

we were alone in the woods. Ah ! they were les- 
sons directed from heaven. 

In the spring but few deer were killed, because 
they were not in good order, the venison being 
poor, and the skin so thin, that it was no object 
to kill them. To hunt deer in the summer was 
my great delight, which I did in the following 
manner: — During the day I looked for their 
tracks, as they came on the shore of the lake or 
river during the night ; they came there to feed. 
If they came on the bank of the river, I lighted 
pitch pine, and the current of the river took the 
canoe along the shore. My lantern was so con- 
structed that the light could not fall on one spot, 
but swept along the shore. The deer could see the 
light, but were not alarmed by it, continued feed- 
ing on the weeds. In this way, I have approached 
so close that I could have reached them with my 
paddle. In this manner owi forefathers shot them, 
not with a gun, as I did, but with the bow and 
arrow. Bows were made strong enough, so that 
the arrows might pierce through them. 

Another mode of hunting on the lakes, pre- 
ferred by some, is shooting without a light. 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 29 

Many were so expert, and possessed such an ac- 
curacy in liearing, that that they could shoot 
successfully in the dark, with no other guide than 
the noise of the deer in the water ; the position 
of the deer being well known, in this way, the 
darkest night. I will here relate an occurrence 
which took place in 1834. My father and I were 
hunting on the river Trent, in the night ; after we 
had shot two deer, and while returning home- 
wards, we heard the noise of a deer's footsteps. 
The night was as dark as pitch. We approached 
the deer. I asked my father at what part of the 
animal I should aim. He replied, " at the head 
or neck." I poised my gun and fired ; hearing 
no noise, I concluded that my game was sure. 
I lighted some pitch pine and walked towards 
the spot from which the noise had come. The 
deer lay dead and bleeding. On examination I 
found that I had shot it just below the ear. In 
the fall of the year, also, I was accustomed to 
hunt ; the meat was very fine, and the skins, (from 
which our moccasons were made), were much 
thicker at this season. Those that could track 

the deer on fallen leaves and shoot one each day, 

4 



30 THE LIFE OF 

were considered first rate hunters. The fall is 
the best time to determine the skill of the hunts- 
man. 

Of all animals the bear is the most dangerous 
to hunt. I had heard so many stories about its 
cunning that I dreaded to meet one. One day 
a party of us were going out to hunt the bear, 
just below Crooke's rapids. After we had made 
a temporary place to stay for several days, we 
marched in file ; after a while we halted, each 
took a different direction. My father said, " my 
son you had better loiter behind the rest. Do 
not go far, for you may lose yourself " We 
parted — I took my course, and the rest theirs. 
I trembled for fear I should see what I was 
hunting for ! I went only where I least expected 
to see a bear, and every noise I heard in the woods, 
I thought must be one. As I stood on an old 
mossy log, there was such a crack on the side 
of the hill that my heart leaped within me. As 
I turned and looked, there was a large bear 
running towards me ! I hid myself behind a 
tree ; but on he came ; I watched him ; he came 
like a hogshead rolling down hill; there were 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 31 

no signs of stopping ; when a few feet from me, 
I jumped aside, and cried Yah ! (an exclamation 
of fear). I fired my gun without taking sight ; in 
turning suddenly to avoid me, he threw up the 
earth and leaves ; for an instant I was led to be- 
lieve that the bear was upon me. I dropped my gun 
and fell backwards, while the bear lay sprawling 
just by me. Having recovered, I took up my gun 
and went a few feet from where I fell, and load- 
ed my gun in a hurry. I then sought for a long 
pole, and with it, I poked it on its side, to see if it 
was really dead. It did not move, it was dead ; 
but even then I had not courage to go and touch 
it with my hands. When all was over, and I 
had told my father I had killed a bear, I felt 
as though my little leggings could hardly con- 
tain me. In examining it, I found the ball had 
gone through its heart. 

Bear meat is like pork. It can be kept a 
long time when cured. For some weeks toge- 
ther this was the only kind of food we used to 
eat. 

The oil of the bear is used for various pur- 
poses. One use is, to prevent the falling out 



32 THE LIFE OF 

of the hair. The apothecaries buy it from the 
Indians for about five dollars a gallon. 

The skins of bears are what our forefathers 
wore, before the white people came amongst us, 
as blankets ; but now land-sharks, called traders, 
buy them from the Indians for a mere trifle. 

I loved to hunt the bear, the beaver, and the 
deer; but now, the occupation has no charms 
for me. I will now take the goose quill for my 
hoWy and its point for my arroic. If perchance I 
may yet speak, when my poor aching head lies 
low in the grave; when the hand that wrote 
these recollections shall have crumbled into 
dust ; then these pages will not have been writ- 
ten in vain. 

" ! Land of rest for thee I sigh — 

When will the season come, 
When I ehall lay my armor by. 

And dwell in peace at home." 

The beaver was hunted in the spring and fall. 
They were either trapped or shot. Among all the 
animals that live in the water, the beaver is of the 
kindest disposition, when tamed; it is a very 
cleanly animal; sits on its broad tail on the 
ground while feeding; feeds all night, and sleeps 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 36 

most [of the day. The beaver skin was once 
worth from eight to ten dollars a piece, or four 
dollars per pound. 

The otter, too, is much valued. The whites 
buy the skins, and make caps of them. They 
are mostly caught in traps. In the fall and 
spring they are always on the move. 

The otter is a greedy animal ; it can be tamed, 
but when^hungry becomes cross, and often bites. 
If it be a half a mile off, it will scent any food 
preparing in the wigwam. 

When about five years old, I commenced 
shooting birds, with a small bow and arrow. I 
have shot many a bird, but am no more a marks- 
man. I used to feel proud when I use to carry 
home my own game. The first thing that any 
of the hunters shot, was cooked by the grand- 
father and grand-mother, and there was great 
rejoicing, to inspire the youthful hunter with 
fresh ardor. Day after day I searched for the 
grey squirrel, the wood-pecker, the snipe, and 
the snow bird, for this was all my employ- 
ment. 

The gun was another instrument put into my 



o4 THE LIFE OF 

hands, which I was taught to use both carefully 
and skilfully. Seldom do accidents occur from 
the use of fire arms among our people. I de- 
lighted in running after the deer, in order to head 
and shoot them. It was a well known fact that 
I ranked high among the hunters. I remember 
the first deer I ever shot, it was about one mile 
north of the village of Keene. The Indians, as 
has just been said, once had a custom, which is 
now done away, of making a great feast of the 
first deer that a young hunter caught ; the young 
hunter, however, was not to partake of any of it, 
but wait upon the others. All the satisfaction 
he could realize, was to thump his heels on the 
ground, while he and others were singing the fol- 
lowing hunter's song: 

" Ah yah ba wah, ne gah me koo nah vah ! 
Ah yah wa seeh, ne gah me koo nah nah." " 

The fattest of the bucks I'll take, 
The choicest of all animals I'll take. 

In the days of our ignorance we used to dance 
around the fire. I shudder when I think of those 

" These Imes aro sung over and over again, for about half an hour. 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 35 

days of our darkness. I thought the Spirit would 
be kind to me if I danced before the old men ; 
and day after day, or night after night, I have 
been employed with others in this way. I thank 
God that those days will never return. 



36 THE LIFE OF 



CHAPTER III. 



The Ojebwas, as well as many others, acknow- 
ledged that there was hut one Great Spirit, who 
made the world ; they gave him the name of 
good or benevolent; kcsha is benevolent, mone- 
(ho is spirit; Ke-sha-mon-e-doo. They supposed 
he lived in the heavens ; but the most of the time 
he was in the Sun, They said it was from him 
they received all that was good through life, and 
that he seldom needs the offering of his Red 
children, for he was seldom -angry. 

They also said he could hear all his children, 
and see them. He was the author of all things 
that they saw, and made the other spirits that were 
acknowledged by the Ojebwas. It was said that 
these other spirits took special care of the various 
departments of nature. The god of the hunter 
was one who presided over the animals; the 
god of war was one who controlled the destinies 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 37 

of men ; the god of medicine was one who pre- 
sided over the herbs of the earth. The fishes 
had theirs, the birds had theirs, and there was 
another over the moon and stars ! 

" Millicns of spiritual creatures walk the earth 
Unseen, both when we sleep and when we wake." 

There was one miappeasable spirit, called Bad 
Spirit, Mah-je-mah-ne-doo. He, it was thought, 
lived iTnder the earth ; and from him was attri- 
buted all that was not good, bad luck, sickness, 
even death. To him they offered sacrifices more 
than to any other spirit, things most dear to 
them. There were three things that were gene- 
rally oftered to the Bad Spirit, viz. a dog, whis- 
key, and tobacco, a fit offering with the excep- 
tion of the poor dog. The poor dog was pamted 
red on its paws, with a large stone and five plugs 
of tobacco tied about its neck ; it was then sunk 
in the water ; while the beating of the drum took 
place upon the shore, and words were chanted 
to the Bad Spirit. 

The whiskey was thus offered to the Bad Spi- 
rit : — When the Indians were seated around the 

wigwam, or on the grass, and the person who 

5 



38 THE LIFE OF 

deals out the whiskey had given all the In- 
dians a dram then the devil was to have his 
share; it was poured on the ground, and if it 
went down quickly, it was thought he accepted 
the offering. 

Fire water was sometimes poured out near the 
head of the graves of the deceased, that their 
spirits might drink with their former friends. I 
have often seen them sit around the grave, and 
as they drank, make mention of the name of 
their dead, and pour some whiskey on the 
ground. 

Our religion consisted in observing certain cere- 
monies every spring. Most of the Ojebwas around 
us, use to come and worship the Great Spirit 
with us at Rice Lake. At this festival a great 
many of the youth were initiated into the medi- 
cal mysteries of the nation. We were taught the 
virtues of herbs, and the various kinds of minerals 
used in our medicine. I will here describe the 
Me-tac-we-gah-mig or Grand Medicine Lodge. It 
was a wigwam 150 feet long and 15 feet wide. 
The clan of medicine men and women alone, 
were allowed to be inside, at each sitting, with their 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 39 

medicine badge, on each side of the wigwam. 
Then there were fonr old men who took the lead in 
singing, and beating the drum, as they stood near 
the centre. Before them were a company who 
were to take degrees. There were four grades in 
the institution ; and as I have often thought, some- 
what similar to the Masonic institution. 

After the singing commenced, the whole com- 
pany arose and danced, as they moved from one 
end of the wigwam to the other. As they go 
round, one-half of them cast their heads down 
upon their bosoms, as if affected by the medi- 
cine, which was kept in small skins, and which 
they pretended to thrust at each other ; this was 
done to deceive the ignorant. These forms were 
continued several days. The party to be made 
medicine men and women, looked on in the 
mean time, to see what they would have to do 
themselves. Then they are taken to another 
place with our medicine men, and are taught the 
science of medicine. After receiving instruc- 
tions, another day was allotted to give them in- 
struction on morality. They were advised on 
various subjects. All were to keep silence, and 



40 THE LIFE OF 

endeavor to retain what they were taught. I 
will here give some of the sayings of our medi- 
cine men : — 

" If you are a good hunter, warrior, and a me- 
dicine man, when you die, you will have no diffi- 
culty in getting to the far west in the spirit land." 

" Listen to the words of your parents, never be 
impatient, then the Great Sphit will give you a 
long Ufe." 

"Never pass by any indigent person without 
giving him something to eat. Owh wah-yah- 
bak-mek ke-gah-shah-wa-ne-mig — the spirit that 
sees you will bless you." 

" If you see an orphan in want, help him ; for 
you will be rewarded by his friends here, or thank- 
ed by his parents in the land of spirits." 

" If you own a good hunting dog, give it to 
the first poor man who really needs it." 

" When you kill a deer, or bear, never appro- 
priate it to yourself alone, if others are in want ; 
never withhold from them what the Great Spirit 
has blessed you with." 

"When you eat, share with the poor children 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 41 

who may be near you, for when you are old, they 
will administer to your wants." 

" Never use improper medicine to the injury of 
another, lest you yourself may receive the same 
treatment." 

"When an opportunity offers, call the aged 
together, and provide for them venison properly 
cooked, and give them a hearty welcome ; then 
the gods that have favored them will be your 
friends." 

These are a few specimens of the advice given 
by our fathers, and by adhering to their counsels, 
the lives, peace, and happiness, of the Indian race 
were secured; for then there was no whiskey 
amongst them. O ! that accursed thing. O ! 
why did the white man give it to my poor fathers ? 
None but fiends in human shape could have in- 
troduced it amongst us. 

I recollect the day when my people in Canada 
were both numerous and happy ; and since then, 
to my sorrow, they have faded away like frost 
before the heat of the sun ! Where are now that 
once niunerous and happy people ? The voice of 
but few is heard. 



42 THE LIFE OF 

The Ojebwa nation, that unconquered na- 
tion, has fallen a prey to the withering influence 
of intemperance. Their buoyant spirits could 
once mount the air as on the wings of a bird. 
Now they have no spirits. They are hedged in, 
bound, and maltreated, by both the American and 
the British G overimients. They have no other 
hope, than that at some day, they will be relieved 
from their privations and trials by death. The 
fire-water has rolled towards them like the waves 
of the sea. Alas ! alas ! my poor people ! The 
tribe became dissipated, and consequently impro- 
vident, and often suffered intensely. It was in 
visiting the interior that we always suffered most. 

I will here narrate a single circumstance which 
will convey a correct idea of the suffermgs to 
which Indians were often exposed. To collect 
furs of difterent kinds, for the traders, we had to 
travel far into the woods, and remain there the 
whole winter. Once we left Rice Lake in the 
fall, and ascended the river in canoes, above Bell- 
mont Lake. There were five families about to 
hunt with my father, on his gromids. The winter 
began to set in, and the river having frozen over, 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 43 

we left the canoes, the dried venison, the beaver, 
and some flour and pork ; and when we had gone 
farther north, say about sixty miles from the 
whites, for the purpose of hunting", the snow fell for 
five days in succession to such a depth, that it was 
impossible to shoot or trap any thing. Our pro- 
visions were exhausted, and we had no means to 
procure any more. Here we were. The snow 
about five feet deep; our wigwam buried; the 
branches of the trees falling around us, and crack- 
ing from the weight of the snow. 

Our mother boiled birch bark for my sister and 
myself, that we might not starve. On the seventh 
day some of them were so weak that they could 
not raise themselves, and others could not stand 
alone. They could only crawl in and out of the 
wigwam. We parched beaver skins and old 
moccasons for food. On the ninth day none of 
the men were able to go abroad, except my father 
and uncle. On the tenth day, still being without 
food, those only who were able to walk about the 
wigwam, were my father, my grand-mother, my 
sister, and myself O hoAv distressing to see the 
starving Indians lying about- the wigwam with 



44 THE LIFE OF 

hungry and eager looks; the children would cry 
for something to eat. My poor mother would 
heave hitter sighs of despair, the tears falling from 
her cheeks profusely as she kissed us. Wood, 
though plenty, could not be obtained, on account 
of the feebleness of our limbs. 

My father, at times, would draw near the fire, 
and rehearse some prayer to the gods. It ap- 
peared to him that there was no way of escape; 
the men, women and children dying; some of 
them were speechless. The wigwam was cold 
and dark, and covered with snow. On the 
eleventh day, just before daylight, my father fell 
into a sleep ; he soon awoke and said to me, " My 
son, the Great Spirit is about to bless us ; this 
^ night in my dream I saw a person coming from 
the east, walking on the tops of the trees. He 
told me that we should obtain two beavers this 
morning about nine o'clock. Put on your moc- 
casons and go along with me to the river, and 
we will hunt the beaver, perhaps for the last 
time." I saw that his countenance beamed with 
delight ; he was full of confidence. I put on my 
moccasons and carried my snow shoes, stagger- 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 45 

ing along- behind him, about half a mile. Hav- 
ing made a fire near the river, where there Avas 
an air hole, through which the beaver had come 
up during the night, my father tied a gun to a 
stump, with the muzzle towards the air hole ; he 
also tied a string to the trigger, and said "should 
you see the beaver rise, pull the string and you 
will kill it." I stood by the fire with the string 
in my hand. I soon heard a noise occasioned by 
the blow of his tomahawk; he had killed a beaver, 
and he brought it to me. As he laid it down, he 
said " then the Great Spirit will not let us die 
here;" adding, as before, " if you see the beaver, 
rise, and pull the string." He left me, I soon saw 
the nose of one ; but I did not shoot. Presently 
another came up ; I pulled the trigger, and off 
the gun went. I could not see for sometime for 
the smoke. My father ran towards me, took 
the two beavers and laid them side by side ; then 
pointing to the sun, said, " Do you see the sun? 
The Great Spirit informed me that we should 
kill these two about this time this morning. We 
will yet see our relatives at Rice Lake ; noAv let 
us go home and see if they are still alive." AVe 



46 THE LIFE OF 

hastened home, and arrived just in time to save 
them from death. Since which, we visited the 
same spot, the year after the missionaries came 
among ns. My father, with feelings of gratitude, 
knelt down on the spot where we had nearly 
perished. Glory to God ! But what have I done 
for Him since? Comparatively nothing. We 
were just at death's door, when Christianity res- 
cued us. I have heard of many, who have pe- 
rished in this way, far in the woods. In my 
travels to the west, I have met many whose 
families had perished, and who had themselves 
merely escaped starvation. May God . forgive 
me, for my ingratitude and indolence in his 
blessed cause ! 

I will here introduce a favorite war song of the 
Ojebwa nation. It was accompanied by dancing, 
and an occasional war-whoop. At the end of 
each stanza, a warrior rehearsed some former 
victories, which inspired them with ardor for 
war. Unchristianizcd Indians are often like 
greedy lions after their prey ; yes, at times, they 
are indeed cruel and blood thirsty. I have met 
Avith warriors, who, when they had killed their 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 47 

enemies, cut open their breasts, took out their 
hearts, and drank their blood ; and all this was 
out of mere rer)enge. But to the War Song, which 
was first translated for Col. McKinney, " the In- 
dian's friend,' ' on the shore of Lake Superior. 

'• On that clay when our heroes lay low — lay low — 
On that clay when our heroes lay low, 
I fought by then* side, and thought ere I died, 
Just vengeance to take on the foe — the foe — 
Just vengeance to take on the foe. 

" On that day when our chieftains lay dead — lay dead — 

On that day when our chieftams lay dead, 

I fought hand to hand, at the head of my baud. 

And here, on my breast, have I bled — have I bled — 

And here, on my breast, have I bled. 

" Our chiefs shall return no more — no more — 

Our chiefs shall return no more — 

And their brothers in war who can't show scar for scar. 

Like women their fates shall deplore — shall deplore — 

Like women, their fates shall deplore. 

" Five winters m hunting we'll spend — we'll spend — 
Five winters in hunting we'll spend — 
Then our youths gi'own to men, to the war lead again. 
And our days like our fathers', we'U end — we'll end — 
And our days like our fathers', we'll end." 



48 THE LIFE OF 



CHAPTER IV. 



^ Our people believed much in omens. The 
barking of foxes and of wolves, the bleating of the 
deer, the screaching of owls, bad luck in hunt- 
ing, the flight of uncommon kinds of birds, the 
moaning noise of a partridge, the noise of a chuck 
chuck ske sei/,^ were ominous of ill ; the two last 
were certain omens of death. But the sailing of 
an eagle to and fro, and the noise of a raven, were 
omens of good. 

^' Dreams, too, were much relied on by our na- 
tion. They thought the spirits revealed to them 



* To this bird I have given its Indian name, because I have not been able 
to discover it among the collection of the various birds in the books and in 
the museums. It is about the size of the smaller kind of parrot. The 
color of its feathers is like those of a jay, having short wings small and 
broad peak, with an upper and lower row of teeth, like a human being. In 
this last respect, it is different from any other bird. It takes its name from the 
eoimds it utters, viz. chuck, chuck. 1 hope that the celebrated ornithologist 
Audabon, to whom I intend to present a copy of my work, will throw some 
light upon this subject. 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 49 

what they were to do, and what they should be, 
viz. good hunters, warriors, and medicine men. 
I would fast sometimes two, and sometimes even 
four days. When fasting, we were to leave the 
wigwam early in the morning, and travel all day 
from one place to another, in search of the favor 
of the gods. I was taught to believe that the 
gods would communicate with me, in the shape 
of birds, animals, etc., etc. When I fell asleep 
in the woods, and dreamed some strange dream, I 
felt confident that it was from the spirits. I will 
now relate what I dreamed when I was but twelve 
years old, and also my father's interpretation of 
my dream. 

Myself and others were sleeping far from the 
wigwam, near a large pine. I saw, in my dream, 
a person coming from the east ; he approached, 
walking on the air ; he looked down upon me, 
and said, " Is this where you are ?" I said " yes." 
" Do you see this pine ?" " Yes, I see it." " It 
is a great and high tree." I observed that the 
tree was lofty, reaching towards the heavens. Its 
branches extended over land and water, and its 
roots were very deep. " Look on it while I sing, 



50 THE LIFE OF 

yes, gaze upon the tree." He sang, and pointed 
to the tree ; it commenced waving its top ; the 
earth about its roots was heaved up, and the 
waters roared and tossed from one side of their 
beds to the other. As soon as he stopped singing, 
and let fall his hands, every thing became per- 
fectly still and quiet. " Now," said he, " sing 
the words which I have sung." I commenced 
as follows : — 

"It is I who travel in the winds, 
It is I who wliisper in the breeze, 

I shake the trees, 

I shalte the earth, 
I ti'ouble the waters on every land." 

While singing, I heard the winds whistle, saw 
the tree waving its top, the earth heaving, heard 
the waters roaring, because they were all trou- 
bled and agitated. Then said he, " I am from 
the rising of the sun, I will come and see you 
again. You will not see me often ; but you will 
hear me speak." Thus spoke the spirit, and then 
turned away towards the road from which he had 
come. I told my father of my dream, and after 
hearing all, he said, " My son, the god of tlie 
iciivls is kind to you ; the aged tree, I hope, may 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 51 

indicate long life ; the wind may indicate that 
you will travel much ; the water which you saw, 
and the winds, will carry your canoe safely 
through the waves." 

I relied much on my dream, for then I knew 
no better. But, however little reliance can be 
placed in dreams, 3^et may not the Great Spirit 
take this method, sometimes, to bring about 
some good result ? 

There was no such thing known among our 
people as swearing, or profaning the name of 
the Great Spirit in vain. The whites first taught 
them to swear. I often swore, when I knew not 
what I said. I have seen some ichitc faces, Avith 
black hearts, who took delight in teaching them 
to profane the name of God. O merciless, heart- 
less, and wicked w^hite men, may a merciful God 
forgive you your enormous turpitude and reck- 
lessness ! 

There was a custom among us, before Christi- 
anity visited us, that when the Ojebwas intended 
to take a general whiskey " spree," several young 
men were appointed by the head chief to collect 
all the fire arms, knives, war-clubs and other 



52 



THE IJFE OF 



weapons, and keep them in a secret place, till 
the Indians had completed their frolic. This was 
done to prevent them from murdering each other 
when intoxicated. By this means many lives 
have been saved ; although many have been kill- 
ed during their drunken lights. They would 
walk very far, for a dram of liquor. I once heard 
of an individual, whom I had seen many times, 
who would travel all day for a single drink of 
fire-water. When he arrived at the trading post, 
he obtained and guzzled down a cup full of 
whiskey. When the poison had operated, he 
said, that he felt as if his head was going down 
his throat; and added, "Whah! I wish my neck 
was a mile long, so that I might feel and hear 
the whiskey running all the way down ! " 

A certain Indian once teased a Mrs. F. for 
whiskey, which he said was to cure his " big toe,'" 
that had been badly bruised the preceding night. 
Mrs. F. said, "I am afraid you will drink it." 
He declared he would not drink it; and after 
much pleading, she handed him some ; he took 
it, and looking first at his toe, and then at the 
liquor, alternately, all of a sudden he slipped the 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 53 

whiskey down his gullet, at the same time ex- 
claiming, as he pointed to his toe, " There, whis- 
key, go down to my poor big toe." 

One of our people, who had much resolution, 
and was determined to seek religion, when he 
heard that the Methodist Indians were not to 
drink anymore fire-water, remarked as follows: — 

" Well, if that is the case, Fll go to-night, and bid 
my old friend ichiskey a final farewell.''^ He went, 
and drank and caroused with his rum-compa- 
nions all night. On the following day about 
noon, he came staggering towards his wigwam, 
singing out to all whom he met, " Me goes to Me- 
thodist, me no drink little more, me am Methodist" 
He was true to his word, for he drank no more, 
and the Lord blessed him in the forgiveness of 
all his sins. For eighteen years he was a consis- 
tent Christian, and died last June, with the 
brightest hopes of immortal bliss. Oh ! the 
heights and depths of the goodness and mercy 
of God ! 

In view of these things, I have often exclaim- 
ed from the bottom of my heart, in the language 
of " The Indian's Regret," and which is the 



54 THE LIFE OF 

language of all, who have been brought from 
darkness, to the marvelous light of the gospel: — 

" O had our Indian fathers known 

What Prophets told of Christ and heaven ! 

For them, we drop a tear and mouni, 
But weep for joy, our sins forgiven." 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 55 



CHAPTER V. 



The traditions handed down from father to son, 
were held very sacred ; one half of these are not 
known by the white people, howeA'er far their 
researches may have extended. There is an un- 
willingness, on the part of the Indians to com- 
municate many of their traditions. The only way 
to come at these is, to educate the Indians, so 
that they may be able to write out what they 
have heard, or may hear, and publish it. 
Should I be spared till next summer, I design to 
visit my people in the far west, and abide with 
them long enough to learn the rest of their tradi- 
tions, with an account of their migration to this 
country. My own belief is, that they came to 
this country, and fought with the original inha- 
bitants; and having overpowered them, became 
the owners of the soil. I will not now give my 



56 THE LIFE OF 

reasons for this belief, as I expect at some future 
day to collect all the necessary information for 
this purpose, from history and discoveries, corro- 
borated by these traditions. My readers will then 
be able to judge whether we are to be identified 
with the dispersed and "lost tribes of Israel." 
Can it be possible, that, had we sprung from any 
of the Hebrew tribes, we should be so completely 
ignorant of a Messiah, a Sabbath, or a single 
vestige of the Levitical Law ? But enough of 
this for the present. 

As far as I am able to learn, our nation has 
never been conquered; and have maintained 
their ground wherever they have conquered. 
The Saxe tribe have tried their ingenuity, power, 
and bravery, to drive them from the south shore 
of Lake Superior. The Hiirons mustered their 
warriors against the aggressions made by the Ojeb- 
wa nation. Their war-canoes, were once direct- 
ed against the Ojebwa nation, but they were 
obliged to turn back, and flee for protection, to 
the Shawnee nation. The sound of the war- 
whoop which once rang all around the shores 
of Lake Huron, receded, and died away on 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 57 

the waters of Sandusky. The arms that once 
wielded the war-chib, were strewed about their 
grounds, on account of broken treaties made in for- 
mer days, and massacres at the mouth of French 
river. The Traquois, who struck terror wherever -^ 
their mere names were mentioned, also tried to 
check our progress, after we had conquered the 
Hurons. Their war-whoops resounded over the 
dismal regions of the conquered land ; but they too 
shared the same fate. They went as spies as far 
as La Pointe, on the south shore of Lake Superior ; 
but not with their armies any farther than Ke-wa- 
o-non, in the copper regions. Here they were 
massacred by hundreds, and fell in their canoes 
at one of the narrow passes, on their way to the 
Portage, about fourteen miles from the Bay of 
Aunce. After these fruitless attempts to drive 
the Ojebwas from their land, they fought many 
battles with them in the regions now called Ca- 
nada West; but in these they suffered much, 
and were defeated. It was then, probably, that 
the Hurons and Iraquois leagued together, hoping 
by their combined forces to conquer us. This 



58 THE LIFE OF 

accounts for the confederacy that existed when 
the whites came among them. 

The migration of the Ojebwas has been traced 
from the upper part of Lake Superior, and even 
several hundred miles above its head, along the 
shore of Lake Superior, down to Lake Huron, 
vSt. Clair, the foot of Lake Michigan, north of 
Lakes Erie and Ontario, and some distance down 
the St. Lawrence. 

They now inhabit a portion of land extending 
about two thousand miles east and west, and 
from two hundred and fifty to three hundred 
miles from north to south. They have in each 
village, a chief who governs them, besides a 
great number of war chiefs. Each village has a 
council of its own, made up of the different 
tribes. A tribe is a band of Lidians whose sign 
or nnark is the same ; for example, such as wear 
the sign of the crane, recognize each other as 
relatives; and although each village may be 
composed of different tribes, yet they miust be of 
the same nation. 

Councils ofi^ace must be held by tAVo nations. 
These councils are held in high esteem. When 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 55^ 

two nations are at war, if either sues for peace, 
they hand to each other some token, such as a 
belt of wampum (or beads), or a calumet (a long 
pipe). 

There was once a general council held, be- 
tween the Hurons and the Ojebwas ; it was con- 
ducted in the following manner: — They came 
together near Sault St. Marie, and agreed upon a 
peace for five years. After the pipe of peace was 
prepared, the Ojebwa and the Huron warriors 
arranged themselves in two Imes, on each side 
of their chiefs, and said that they must ascertain 
whether the Great Spirit would approve of their 
proceedings. Two from each nation were cho- 
sen; the Hurons held the pipe filled with to- 
bacco, the Ojebwas, the steel, flint, and spunk. 
The steel was then struck against the flint, and 
if, on the first stroke, the spunk was ignited, so 
as to fire the tobacco, and thus enable the war- 
rior to draw in, and to emit, a volume of smoke, 
then the evidence was complete that the Great 
Spirit approved of their plans and proceedings ; 
and the whole assembly now would set up the 
most tremendous shout of joy. The two nations 



60 THE LIFE OF 

were successful in this. The shout was given, 
peace was secured, and these two powerful 
nations separated for their own homes. For 
three years no dark cloud hung over the two 
nations. 

The Ojebwas began to trade with the whites 
at Quebec. It usually required all the summer 
to journey from the shore of Lake Superior to 
that place and back again. These were tedious 
and periloiis journeys ; but they were determined 
to obtain " the snake ivhich spit Jire, smoke, and 
death ;" this was their description of a gun to 
their brethren. 

It was during these journeys that forty of them 
were massacred by the Hurons, at the mouth of 
French River, without the least provocation; 
plunder alone was their object. This, in connec- 
tion with similar acts, occasioned that war which 
resulted in their complete extermination from 
Canada by our nation. 

The future state of the Ojebwas, was in the 
Far West. They described that state or country, 
as being full of game, and with trees loaded with 
fruit of every desaiption. 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 61 

When an Indian warrior died on the field of v^ 
battle, his soul, it was said, took its immediate 
flight to this paradise. The souls of those, how- 
ever, who died in other circumstances, it was 
believed, departed from the grave, and journeyed 
in the ordinary way, although unseen by mor- 
tals, to this same land. 

There was a difficult bridge near this land, 
over which the soul was to cross. A warrior, 
hunter, or medicine man, would have no diffi- 
culty in crossing this bridge. Under this bridge 
was a rapid stream, and he who was not a good 
warrior, hunter or medicine man, would either 
fall into the water, or lose his way, after having 
crossed, in some barren country, where there was 
no game, or fruit, although there might be, occa- 
sionally, a deer, or the like. O how barren! 
How dismal ! A place where distress, want, and 
despair would continue ! On the other hand, the 
favored warrior entered the fields of paradise, 
amidst the shouts and welcome of his fellow 
warriors, who had preceded him to this land of 
plenty. The deer, the moose, the elk, and all 
kinds of animals, fruits, flowers, and the singing 



62 THE LIFE OF 

of birds fill and charm the land. While the ever 
rolling valleys are visited with delightful and re- 
freshing winds. To kill, eat, and shoot, are their 
only employments. No sickness, no fatigue, no 
death, will ever visit them. The valleys and the 
mountains are to be clothed with evergreens. 
No winter to chill the earth. A carnal heaven 
indeed! A sensual paradise! Oh! the credu- 
lous and misguided Indian. 

" Lo! the poor Indian whose untutored mind, 
Sees God in clouds, or hears him in the ■wind; 
Whose soul's proud science never taught to stray. 
Beyond the solar walk or milky way. 
Yet simple nature his hopes has given 
Beyond the cloud top'd hill a humble heaven, 
Some safer world in depths of woods embrace, 
Some Island in the watery waste. 
Vv'here slaves once mors their native laud behold, 
No fiends torment, nor Christian thirsts for gold." 

POPK. 

My father often spoke of that country, while I 
was young. He informed me, that if I should 
become a great warrior, a hunter, or a medicine 
man, I would have no difficulty in reaching that 
happy spot. Little then did he know of a heaven 
revealed in the gospel. That heaven, where angels 
and pure spirits dAvell, and where we shall see 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 63 

the blessed Jesus as he is, and, what is still a 
greater honor, be like him. 



" O for a thoasand tongues to sing " Oh uh pa-]?ish ke die inpfo' dwok, 
My great Redeemer's praise ! Neej uh ne she nah baig, 

The glories of my God and King, Clie nuh nuh guh mo tuli wah wod 
The triumphs of his grace ! Niug e zha Mun e-doom. 

" My gracious Master, and my God, " Ning e che Noo sa weej e shin, 
Assist me to proclaim, Che ween d uh mah ga yon, 

To spread through all the earth abroad O mah a ne gook kuh me gog 
The honors of thy Name. A zhe wa be ze yun. 

"Jesus! the Name that charms our fears, "Jesus! kah be 'non duh we 'nunff, 

That bids our sorrows cease ; Kah gah see beeng w^a 'nung ; 

'Tis music in the sinner's ears, Ka gait 'che me no ne kah zo, 
'Tis life, and health, and peace." Kah noo je mo e nung." 



When our warriors were dying, they told their 
children that they would soon reach the happy 
country. Their eyeballs, rolling in death, were 
turned towards the setting Sun. O white man ! 
why did you not tell us before, that there was a 
better heaven than that of the Indian's? Did 
not the blessed Saviour command, " Go ye into 
all the world, and 'preach the gospel to every 
creature ? " Reader, almost by the door of your 
churches, my forefathers perished for the lack of 
the bread of life, while you have reached out 
your arms, and extended your means for the re- 
lief of those in distant lands ! O what a thought I 



64 THE LIFE OF 

Thousands have already perished, and thousands 
more will yet perish, unless converted to God ! 
The thought of perishing ! how iiisufferabk ! O, 
how intolerable ! 

" O mercy, mercy, look down from above ; 
Great Creator, on us, thy sad children, with love ; 
When beneath to their darkness the wicked are driven, 
May om' justified souls find a welcome in heaven." 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 65 



CHAPTER VI. 



Rice Lake, that beautiful lake, extends about 
twenty-five miles, and is from two to three miles 
in breadth, running from northeast to southwest. 
It contains about twenty islands. Large quanti- 
ties of wild rice abound in almost every part of 
the lake ; it resembles fields of wheat. As ducks 
of all kinds resort here in great abundance, to feed 
upon the rice, consequently, there is much good 
game in the fall of the year. They fly in large 
flocks, and often appear like clouds. Some of the 
islands just referred to, are beautiful ; for exam- 
ple, Sugar Island, with its beautiful edge of ever- 
greens near the water ; Sjiokc Island, sl place of 
fashionable summer resort. One of the largest 
of these islands, contains about three hundred 
acres. 

In 1818, our people surrendered to the British 
government a large part of their territory, for the 



66 THE LIFE OF 

sum of £750 ; reserving, as they had good reason 
to believe, all the islands. As they could neither 
read nor write, they were ignorant of the fact 
that these islands were included in the sale. 
They were repeatedly told by those who purchas- 
ed for the government, that the islands were not 
included in the articles of agreement. But since 
that time, some of us have learned to read, and to 
our utter astonishment, and to the everlasting 
disgrace of that pseudo christian nation, we find 
that we have been most grossly abused, deceiv- 
ed, and cheated. Appeals have been frequently 
made, but all in vain. 

Rice Lake contains quantities of the finest fish. 
In the summer, great numbers of boats may be 
seen trowling for mascalounge, sl species of pike, 
some of which weigh about thirty pounds. Bass, 
eels, etc., are also found in this lake. Since 
locks have been made on the canal down to 
Crooke's rapids, much fur can be procured all 
around the lake, especially 7?wfsA7'a^s — Shah-won- 
dase O dah me koo mun. 

This is the spot on which I roamed during my 
early days. Often have I gone with my birch- 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 67 

bark canoe from island to island, in quest ot^ 
ducks and fish. The plain on the south shore, 
is called AVhortleberry Plain. A steamboat runs 
from Gore's Landing to Peterboro once a day. 

The village of the Ojebwas is on the north ; 
the land gradually slopes towards the water. Its 
farms, church, school house, and council house, 
can be seen at a considerable distance. It was 
here where the Rev. James Evans, whose obituary 
was noticed in the following manner in the " Al- 
bany Evening Journal," December 22, 1846, first 
taught an Indian school. 

" Suddenly, on the 23d of November, at Keel- 
by, England, Rev. James Evans, for many years a 
Wesleyan missionary in Canada, and the terri- 
tory of the Hudson Bay Company. On Sunday, 
the 22d, he preached twice, and on Monday 
evening 23d, spoke at a missionary meeting, with 
great fervency. He had complained of a slight 
indisposition, previous to the meeting, but after 
he had finished his address, he said that " his in- 
disposition had been completely removed." Soon 
after his head fell back, and life was gone." 

He was a missionary in every sense of the 



68 THE LIFE OF 

word. From Rice Lake, he went to Lake Supe- 
rior, and afterwards to the Hudson Bay Terri- 
tory, where he labored with much success. His 
precious life was spent in rescuing the Ojebwa 
nation from misery and degradation. Fatigue, 
and hunger, were often his companions ; but the 
power of living faith was that on which his soul 
feasted. O thou man of God, enviable are thy 
labors, thy rest, and thy glory! I, myself, still 
hold in sweet renaembrance the sacred truths 
which thou didst teach me, even the commands 
of the Most High ! Memory, like an angel, will 
still hover over the sacred spot, where first you 
taught me the letters of the Alphabet. 

There are numerous lakes near Rice Lake; 
about some of. which, the Ojebwas reside ; parti- 
cularly Mud, Schoogaug and Balsam Lakes. 
The country, in this vicinity, is rapidly increas- 
ing in population ; the whites are continually 
settling among us. The deer was plenty a fe^v 
years ago, but now only a few can be found. 
The Ojebwas are, at present, employed in farm- 
ing instead of hunting ; many of them have good 
and well cultivated farms. They not only raise 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 69 

grain enough for their own use, but often sell 
much to the whites. 

The Canadian Commissioners on Indian affairs, 
in their report to Parliament in 1845, remarked, in 
relation to the Rice Lake Indians, as follows : — 
" These Indians are Methodists, and have either 
a resident missionary, or have been regularly visit- 
ed by the missionary belonging to the Alnwick 
settlement. They have a school, and a school- 
master is supported by the Methodist Missionary 
Society." 



70 



THE UFE OF 



CHAPTER VII. 



The missionaries first visited us, on the island 
called Be-quah-qua-yo7ig, in 1827, under the fol- 
lowing circumstances. My father and I went to 
Port Hope, to see our principal trader, John D. 
Smith, in order to obtain goods and whiskey, 
about twelve miles from Rice Lake. After my 
father had obtained the goods, he asked for whis- 
key. Mr. Smith said, " John, do you know that 
whiskey will yet kill you, if you do not stop 
drinking ? Why, all the Indians at Credit River, 
and at Grape Island, have abandoned drinking, 
and are now Methodists. I cannot give you any 
whiskey." 

" Tah yah! (an exclamation of surprise), it 
caimot be, I must have whiskey to carry home ; 
my people expect it," said my father. He wish- 
ed to buy a barrel, but only obtained, after much 
pleading, about five gallons. My father promised 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 71 

to drink no more when the missionaries shall have 
come to Rice Lake. We reached home the same 
day about one o'clock, and the Indians were 
awaiting our arrival, that they might have some 
fire-water. They assembled themselves together 
and began to drink and to smoke. Many of them 
were sitting on the grass when the whiskey be- 
gan to steal away their brains. One of our num- 
ber suddenly ran m the crowd, and said, " the 
Mack coats (missionaries) are coming, and are on 
the other side of the point." Each looked at the 
other with perfect astonishment. My father said 
to our informer, "invite them to come over to 
us;" and to the one who was dealing out whiskey, 
" cover the keg with your blanket, and don't let 
the black coats see it." The whiskey was con- 
cealed, and then came the messengers of glad 
tidings of great joy. They were converted In- 
dians, saved by grace, and had been sent to 
preach to us, and to invite us to attend a camp 
meeting near Cobourg. After shaking hands all 
around, one of them delivered a speech to the 
half drunken Indians. He referred to the day, 
when they were without the good news of saka- 



72 THE LIFE OF 

tion. He spoke with great earnestness, and 
the tears fell from his eyes. He said, "-Jesus 
Christ, Ke-sha-mon-e-doo 0-gicc-son (i. e. the Be- 
nevolent Spirit's son), came down to the world, 
and died to save the people ; all the Indians at 
the Credit River, and Grape Island, are now on 
their road to the place where the Saviour has 
gone. Jesus has left a book containing his com- 
mands and sayings to all the world ; you will see 
it, and hear it read, when you go to Cobourg, for the 
black coats have it. They wish you to come and 
hear it. To-morrow is the Sabbath, and on that 
day we do not hunt, or work, for it is the day 
which the Great Spirit made for himself" He 
described the way that the Son of God was cru- 
cified. I observed some of them crying ; my 
mother heaved deep sighs; the half drunken 
Indians were struck dumb, and hung their 
heads. Not a word was uttered. The mission- 
aries said, " We will sing, and then we will kneel 
down, and p'rtj/ to the Great Spirit." He gave 
out the following hymn : — 

V "Jesus ish pe miiig kah e zliod." 
"Jesus, my all, to heaven is gone." 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOVVH. 73 

They stood up and sang. O what sweet me- 
lody was in their voices ! The echo was so great 
that there appeared to be a great many more 
singers than we could see. After the hymn, they 
prayed with the same fervency as they sung. 

Peter Wason prayed, and in his prayer said, 
" O Great Spirit ! here are some of my own rela- 
tives ; open their eyes and save them !" After 
the prayer, they said they were going to Cobourg 
that evening ; and if any desired to go with them, 
they would be glad to have them do so. 

My father arose, and took the keg of whiskey, 
stepped into one of the small canoes, and paddled 
some thirty feet from the shore ; here he poured 
out the whiskey into the lake, and threw the keg 
away. He then returned and addressed us in 
the following manner: — "You have all heard 
what our Brother said to us ; I am going with 
them this evening ; if any of you will go, do so 
this evening ; the children can attend the great 
meeting some other time." Every one ran at 
once, to the paddles and canoes ; and in a few 
minutes we were on the water. The missiona- 
ries had a skiff, in which they went from the 



74 THE LIFE OF 

Island to the opposite side. They sang again, 
and their very oars seemed to keep time on the 
still water. O how charming ! The scenery of 
the water ; the canoes moving in files, crossing 
the lake to visit their first camp meeting. When 
we arrived on the other side, it was about dusk, 
and we bought five candles for a dollar (/), and 
obtained an old lantern. We marched on a new 
road, the whole of Saturday night, in order to 
reach the camp ground. During the journey, 
we had to wade through deep creeks. Just be- 
fore the dawn, we were about half a mile from 
the camp ground ; here we tarried until day light, 
and then approached the camp. 

When the Indians beheld the fence and the 
gate, and a great number of whites, they began 
to feel rather timid and suspicious, for the trader 
had told my father at Rice Lake, that it was for 
the purpose of killing all the Indians that the black 
coats had invited them to the meeting. My fa- 
ther told me to keep away from the ground, and 
hunt birds and squirrels with my bow and arrow ; 
his object was to save my life, in the event of the 
Indians being killed. After remaining on the 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. ' 75 

camp ground awhile, I departed ; but while there, 
I saw a large number of converted Indians who 
belonged to Credit River, and Grape Island. 
Some of them were singing, some praying, and 
others lying about the ground as if dead. There 
were a great many preachers present. 

On the third day many of our company were 
converted; among this number was my dear 
father ! 

As I entered the ground in the afternoon, I 
heard many voices, and among them my father's 
voice. I thought my father was dying; I ran to 
him, and found him lying partly on one of the 
seats. My father, said I, what is the matter with 
you? Are you sick? "Come here my son, I 
am not sick, but I am happy in my heart ;" he 
placed his hand upon his breast while he spoke. 
*' I told you that you must keep away from the 
ground, that your life might be spared ; but I find 
that these are good, and not bad, people ; kneel 
down and I will pray for you." I knelt, while he 
prayed. O, this was my father's first prayer ! Me 
thinks, that at this time the angels rejoiced in 
heaven. I became agitated ; my bow and arrows 



76 THE LIFE OF 

had fallen from my hand. The Indians lay 
ahout me like dead men. All this was the effect 
of the power of gospel grace, that had spread 
among them. The shouts, praises, and prayers, 
of fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters, were 
heard from every quarter. Those who had just 
appeared as dead, arose, and shouted the praises 
of God ! They clapped their hands, and ex- 
^ claimed, '■'■Jesus nin ge shah wa ne mig,''^ Jesus 
has blessed me. The feeling was so general and 
powerful, that the influence was felt throughout 
the camp, both by the Indians and the whites. 
This was one of the happiest seasons I ever wit- 
nessed, except the season of my own conversion. 
Many of my relatives were converted on this oc- 
casion. Many of them have since gone to the 
world of spirits, and are now singing the praises 
of redeeming love. This heavenly fire began to 
fspread from the camp, to Mud, Schoogaug and 
Balsam Lakes, the homes of the Ojebwas; also 
to the shores of Lake Simeco, and Lake Huron, 
and to the vicinity of Lake Superior. 

" Waff, waft, ye winds his story. 
And you ye waters roll, 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 77 

Till like a sea of glory 

It spreads from pole to pole." 

On the camp ground, the Ojebwas sat in 
squads, giving and receiving instruction in sing- 
ing, learning and teaching the Lord's prayer, and 
other things. Some were singing, 

" Jesus, kuh ba ke zhig 

Niug ee e uuli uh moz, 
Uh pa gish kuh ke nuh wahb' dam 'woil 

Ning ee 'nuh da uioosli 

A zlie o ne zhe sliiiig, 
O ge che o duh uuh me ah win." 

" Jesus all the day long 

Was my joy and my song; 
O that all, his salvation might see I 

He hath lov'd me, I cried; 

He hath suffer'd and died 
To redeem such a rebel as me." 



10 



78 THE LIFE OF 



CHAPTER VIIL 



The conversion of my mother took place during 
the summer, on Poutash Island, where the In- 
dians had erected a bark chapel. For two years 
she lived in the enjoyment of religion. Before 
this chapel was ready she would call us together 
in the wigwam, and pray with and for us, several 
times a day, whether our father was at home or 
not. I remember well, at this moment, the lan- 
guage of her prayers. 

She was taken sick in the winter of 1829, and 
was confined to her bed, most of the time, for three 
months ; her disease was consumption. During 
these three months, she enjoyed much religion ; 
there was not a day, in which she did not speak 
of Jesus and his promises with the greatest con- 
fidence and delight. 

When she grew worse, she called for the class 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 79 

leaders to pray with her. She said to her mother, 
whom she supposed would die first, because her 
hair was lohite, " you will still live, but I am go- 
ing to die, and will see Jesus first ; soon, however, 
you Avill follow me." 

The spirit of my dear mother took its flight on 
the 27th day of February, 1830. Just before her 
death, she prayed with her children ; and advised 
us to be good Christians, to love Jesus, and to 
meet her in heaven. She then sang her favorite 
hymn, 

'•' Jesus isli pe ming kah e zhod." 
" Jesus, my all, to lieaven is gone." 

This was the first hymn she had ever heard or 
learned ; and it is on this account that I intro- 
duce and sing this sweet hymn whenever I lec- 
ture "On the origin, history, traditions, migra- 
tion, and customs, of the Ojebwa nation." We 
all knelt again by her bed side, and while clap- 
ping her hands, and endeavoring to shout for joy, 
she swooned away in death. The last words, 
which she feebly uttered, were, " Jcsus^ JcsusT 
Her spirit then fled, her lips were cold, and those 



80 THE LIFE OF 

warm hands that had so often and so faithfully 
adnimistered comfort and relief, were now stiff. 
I looked around the wigwam ; my father, sister, 
and brother sat near me, wringing their hands ; 
they were filled with bitter grief, and appeared in- 
consolable, I then began to understand and ap- 
preciate fully her kindness and love. Who, who 
can, or will, take the place of a mother 7 Who 
will pray fOr iis when we are sick or in distress ? 
Her body was consigned to the grave without 
any parade. No church bell was tolled ; but the 
whistlino- wind sounded throuorh the woods. I 
have often knelt down, at the head of her grave, 
and wished that the time would soon arrive 
when it might please God to relieve me from my 
troubles and cares, and conduct me to the abode 
of my beloved parent. My sister Sarah too, who 
has since died, is doubtless with my mother. O 
how glorious the thought, that both aix now in 
heaven ! There is one spot where none will sigh 
for home. The flowers that blossom there, will 
never fade ; the crystal waters that wind along 
those verdant vales, will never cease to send up 
their heavenly music ; the clusters hanging from 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 81 

the trees overshadowing its banks, will be im- 
mortal clusters ; and the friends ihat meet, will 
meet forever. 

Little then did I think that I should have to 
pass through so many afflictions, and so many 
hardships. O my mother, I am still in a colcl^ un- 
charitable, miserable icoi^ld ! But the thought that 
thou art happy and blessed, is truly sweet and 
encouraging ! It is this fact, and my own hopes 
of future bliss, that buoys me up, and sustains 
me in the hours of conflict and despondency. 
Although many years have elapsed, since her 
death, still, I often weep with mingled joy 
and grief when I think of my dear mother. 
"Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord." 
" I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for 
it is the power of God unto salvation to every 
one that believeth." The gospel is the only re- 
medy for the miseries and sins of the world. 

My mother and sister's cases are not the only 
ones that I could relate concerning the happy 
lives and deaths of those once degraded and be- 
nighted Indians. Many have already reached 
heaven; and many more are now rejoicing on 



8 THE LIFE OF 

their road thither. Who will now say that the 
poor Indians cannot be converted ? The least that 
Christians could have done, was to send the gos- 
pel among them, after having dispossessed them 
of their lands; thus preparing them for useful- 
ness here, and happiness hereafter. Let no one 
say that I am ungrateful in speaking thus. It 
was the duty of Christians to send us missiona- 
ries; and it is noio their duty to send inore of 
them. There are still 25,000 of my poor bre- 
thren in darkness, and without the gospel. Let 
the prayers of all the churches ascend to the 
Most High, in their behalf, that He who has 
power to deliver, may save the poor Indian from 
misery, ignorance, and perdition. 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 83 



CHAPTER IX. 



In the summer following my mother's death 
(1830), / was converted. The folio whig are the 
circumstances connected with my conversion. 
My father and I attended a camp meeting near 
the town of Colbourne. On our way from Rice 
Lake, to the meeting, my father l>eld me by the 
hand, as I accompanied him through the woods. 
Several times he prayed with me, and encouraged 
me to seek religion at this camp meeting. We 
had to walk thirty miles under a hot sun, in 
order to reach the place of destination. Multi- 
tudes of Indians, and a large concourse of whites 
from various places, were on the ground when we 
arrived. In the evening, one of the white preach- 
ers ( Wright, I believe was his name), spoke ; his 
text was, "For the great day of His wrath is 
come, and who shall be able to stand." He spoke 



84 THE LIFE OF 

in English, and as he closed each sentence, an 
Indian preacher gave its interpretation. He 
spoke of the plain and good road to heaven ; of 
the characters that were walking in it ; he then 
spoke of the bad place, the judgment, and the 
coming of a Saviour. I now began to feel as if I 
should die, I felt very sick in my heart. Never 
had I felt so before ; I was deeply distressed, and 
knew not the cause. I resolved to go and pros- 
trate myself at the mourners bench, as soon as 
an opportunity offered. We were now invited 
to approach. I went to the bench and knelt 
down by the roots of a large tree. But how 
could I pray ? I did not understand how to pray ; 
and besides, I thought that the Great Spirit was 
too great to listen to the words of a poor Indian 
boy. What added to my misery was, that it had 
rained in torrents about three quarters of an hour, 
and I was soaking wet. The thunder was ap- 
palling, and the lightning terrific. I then tried 
again to pray, but I was not able. I did not 
know what words to use. My father then pray- 
ed with and for me. Many were praising God, 
all around me. The storm now ceased, and 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 85 

nearly all the lights had been extinguished by 
the rain. I still groaned and agonized over my 
sins. I was so agitated and alarmed that I knew 
not which way to turn in order to get relief. I 
was like a icounded bird, fluttering for its life. 
Presently and suddenly, I saw in my mind, some- 
thing approaching ; it was like a small but bril- 
liant torch ; it appeared to pass through the leaves 
of the trees. My poor body became so enfeebled 
that I fell; my heart trembled. The small bril- 
liant light came near to me, and fell upon my 
head, and then ran all over and through me, just 
as if water had been copiously poured out upon 
me. I knew not how long I had lain after my 
fall ; but when I recovered, my head was in a 
puddle of water, in a small ditch. I arose; and 
O ! how happy I was ! I felt as light as a fea- 
ther. I clapped my hands, and exclaimed in 
English, " Glorij to Jesus J" I looked around for 
my father, and saw him. I told him that I had 
found " Jesus." He embraced me, and kissed 
me ; I threw myself into his arms. I felt as 
strong as a lion, yet as humble as a poor Indian 

boy saved by grace, by grace alone. During that 

11 



86 THE LIFE OF 

night I did not sleep. The next morning, my 
cousin, George Shawney, and myself, went out 
into the woods to sing and pray. As I looked at 
the trees, the hills, and the vallies, O how beauti- 
ful they all appeared ! I looked upon them, as 
it were, with new eyes and new thoughts. Amidst 
the smiles of creation, the birds sang sweetly, as 
they flew from tree to tree. We sang 

" Jesus the name that charms our fears." 

O how sweet the recollections of that day! 
" Jesus all the day long was my joy and my song." 
Several hundred were converted during this meet- 
ing. Many of the Indians were reluctant to 
leave the camp ground v^^hen the meeting was 
broken up. When we reached our homes at 
Rice Lake, every thing seemed to me as if it 
wore a diiferent aspect ; every thing was clothed 
with beauty. Before this, I had only begun to 
spell and read. I now resumed my studies with 
a new and different relish. Often, when alone, 
I prayed that God would help me to qualify my- 
self to teach others how to read the word of God ; 
this circumstance I had not told to any one. On 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 87 

Sabbath mornings I read a chapter in the INew 
Testament, which had been translated for my 
father before we went to meeting. 

During this summer, one of our chiefs, John 
Sunday, with several others, departed from Rice 
Lake, for the west, with a design to preach to the 
Ojebwas. When they returned, they told us that 
the Indians were very eager to hear the word of 
God, and that many had been converted. John 
Sunday informed us of a certain Indian, who was 
so much opposed to the meetings, that he con- 
fined his wife and children to one of the islands, 
to prevent her attending them. But this poor 
woman was so anxious to obey God in attend- 
ance on worship, that she w^as in the habit of 
fording the river every night, and carrying her 
children on her back. Her husband was after- 
wards converted. He mentioned also an in- 
stance of an Indian who brought his medicine 
sack with him to the meeting, but on being con- 
verted, he scattered its contents to the four winds 
of heaven. These sacks were held very sacred 
among the Indians. He spoke likewise of the 
conversion of many chiefs, and of the flocks of 



88 THE LIFE OF 

children anxious to hear the word of God. He 
left such an impression on my mind, that often, 
while alone, I prayed that God might send me 
to instruct the children in the truths of religion. 

I joined my father's class meeting; and as 
often as possible, I attended school during the 
period of two years. In June, 1834, our white 
missionary, Daniel McMullen, received a letter 
from the Rev. Wm. Case, in which it was stated 
that a letter had been sent to him by the Ilev. 
John Clark, who was then the Superintendent 
of the missions on Lake Superior. The Super- 
intendent requested that two native preachers 
and two native teachers should be sent to him. 
John Johnson and I, were told that Ave were to 
accompany Brothers John Taunchey and Cau- 
bage to Lake Superior, to aid Brother Clark. 

Brother Caubage, and my cousin Johnson, took 
their departure. John Taunchey hesitated about 
going, because I was undecided, and my father 
felt unwilling at first to let me go. 

One day I determined to leave the village so 
as to avoid going to Lake Superior; I hunted 
along the River Trent, hoping that John Taunchey 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWII. 89 

would be gone before my return ; 1 felt very un- 
willing to go. I was absent over two weeks ; 
they were the longest two weeks I had ever ex- 
perienced. Yet the whole time I felt dissatisfied ; 
something seemed to whisper to me " George, go 
home, and go to Lake Superior with your uncle 
John Taunchey." I returned to the village. The 
first person I saw, informed me that my uncle 
was waiting for me, and that my father had left 
it to me to decide w^hether to go or to stay. 
Here I was; the missionaries came, and said, 
" George, your father has left it with you to go 
or stay. It is your duty to go ; John is waiting, 
and to-day you must conclude." Our school mis- 
tress, Miss Pinney, came and reasoned with me. 
I recollected too, that I had prayed that God might 
prepare me to be useful to my brethren ; and now, 
that I have some good reason to think that my 
prayers had been heard, and still to refuse to go, 
would perhaps be acting in opposition to the indi- 
cations of God. I wept and prayed ; but O ! that 
night of struggle! I could not sleep. In the morn- 
ing, I said to my father, " I have concluded to go, 
prepare me for my journey." That morning we 



90 THE LIFE OF 

were prepared ; and on the 16th July, 1834, about 
noon, we were on the shore. The canoe was 
ready; many of the Indians prayed with us on 
the beach. After shaking hands with my father 
and the rest, we bid farewell to all we loved so 
tenderly. We went on board the steamboat 
Great Britain at Cobourg, and arrived at Toronto 
the next day. On the 19th of July, we saw at 
Toronto, on the top of one of the houses, Mr. 
William Lyon McKenzie, who created so much 
trouble in Canada in the years 1837 and 1838. He 
was then in the height of his popularity. He was 
placed upon the top of a house by his friends, in 
company with another lawyer, with a large gold 
medal around his neck. There was a large con- 
course of his friends who had come from Hamilton 
for the express purpose of seeing and cheering 
him. On the 20th July we left in the stage for 
Holland Landing; here we remained two days, 
for the want of a conveyance to the Snake Island 
Mission. At this island we tarried the whole of the 
Sabbath with the Indians ; and had some glorious 
meetings. They conveyed us to the Narrows 
Mission. In crossing from Narrows to Cold AVater 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 91 

Mission, we were obliged to carry our trunks on 
our backs. About 11 o'clock we met two runa- 
way horses on the road to Narrows. We caught 
them, tied our trunks on their backs, and lead 
them back to Cold Water. Thus we were re- 
lieved of our heavy loads. 

On Wednesday, the 26th July, we went from 
Cold Water Mission to Pane-ta-wa-go-shene, 
where we saw a great number of Ojebwas from 
Lake Superior, Ottawas, Menomenese, &c. Here 
we fell in with John Sunday, Frazer, and others, 
who were engaged in instructing the Indians in 
this vicinity. 

An opportunity occurred now to go to Sault St. 
Marie, where the Rev. John Clark resided. We 
were out of provisions several times. By fishing 
and shooting gulls on our way, we were enabled 
to reach the Sault, where we met Brother Clark, 
John Caubage, and cousin Johnson; this took 
place, I believe, on the 24th of August. We 
stayed here about two weeks, preparing to go to 
the Aunce, the Ke-wa-we-non Mission. During 
our delay in this place, the Rev. Messrs. Chand- 
ler, and Bourne (the latter a member of the UK- 



92 THE LIFE OF 

nois Conference, arrived. Brother Chandler has 
smce died. My cousin, H. P. Chase, was Brother 
Clark's interpreter. The Indians were comfort- 
able in their new houses. We held meeting with 
them several nights. 

Pah-we-ting with its fisheries. Thomas Shaw, 
a warm and open hearted half-bred Frenchman, 
was in the habit of scooping out of the rapids, 
twenty or thirty fine white fish, and boiling them 
for his friends. 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 93 



CHAPTER X. 



I now began to feel the responsibilities rest- 
ing upon me. The thought of assuming the 
station of a teacher of the Indians, with so few 
capabilities, was enough to discourage more gift- 
ed men than myself Frequently did I enter the 
woods and pour out my soul to God, in agony 
and tears. I trembled at what was before me ; 
and said, "avIio is able for these things?" But 
a still small voice would ansAver, " My grace is 
sufficient for you." Soothing words indeed, espe- 
cially to an unlearned and feeble Red man — a 
mere worm of the dust. 

Having provided every thing necessary for our 

journey, and a residence of eight months at the 

Ka-wa-we-non Mission, we started in company 

with Rev. Mr. Chandler, uncle John Taunchey, 

and the traders who intended to winter on the 

shores of Lake Superior and do business with 

12 



94 THE LIFE OF 

the Ojebwas. We were more than three weeks 
on our journey — three hundred and fifty miles. 
At one place we were weather-bound for one 
week. Our French companions were the most 
wicked of men. They would gnash their teeth 
at each other, curse, swear, and fight among 
themselves. The boat, oars, the winds, water, 
the teachers, etc., did not escape their execra- 
tions. I thought now that I understood what 
hell was in a very clear manner. My very hairs 
seemed to " stand erect like quills upon a fretful 
porcupine," when they gave vent to their male- 
volence and passions. They would fight like 
beasts over their cooking utensils, and even while 
their food was in their mouths. I will just say 
here that I have often seen them eat boiled corn 
with tallow for butter. 

On our road, we saw the celebrated Pictured 
Rocks, Sand Banks, and Grand Island. On a point 
of the latter place we encamped. Every Sab- 
bath I devoted about one hour in sighing and 
crying after home. What good can / c/o, when I 
reach the place of labor ? was a question that 
often occurred to my mind. Still we were going 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 95 

farther and farther from home. We were obliged 
too, to do our own cooking, washing, and mend- 
ing. 

At last, in September, we arrived at the Aunce 
Bay. Here, our house was no better than a wig- 
wam ; and yet we had to occupy it as a dwell- 
ing, a school house, a meeting house, and a 
council room. 

We commenced laboring among our poor peo- 
ple, and those that had been christianized, were 
exceedingly glad to see us. Brothers Sunday and 
1 razer had already been among them more than 
ii year. We began to build quite late in the fall, 
and although we removed a house from the other 
side of the bay, yet we experienced much incon- 
venience. We visited the Indians daily, for the 
purpose of conversing and praying with them. 
There were about thirty, who had, for more than 
a year, professed to experience a change of 
heart. As my uncle was experienced in con- 
versing with the unconverted, I endeavored to 
pursue his course in this respect. Each day we 
took a different direction in visiting the uncon- 
verted. We would sing, read the scriptures, and 



96 THE LIFE OF 

then pray with them. Sometimes they would 
be impudent, and even abusive, but this did not 
discourage us, or deter us from our duty. By 
persevering, we soon discovered that the Lord was 
about to bless our efforts. While my uncle was 
visiting some four or five wigwams, I was visiting 
as many others ; their wigwams being near us. 
Our influence, with God's blessing, was now felt 
among them. Singing and praying w^ere their 
constant employment ; and some of them seemed 
to know nothing else but the enjoyment of the 
truth of the gospel, and that God can and does 
" forgive sin." They became the happiest of 
beings ; their very souls were like an escaped 
bird, whose glad wings had saved it from danger 
and death. Brother Chandler preached twice 
every Sabbath, and taught school every oil.er 
week. One Sabbath, in January, 1835, Brothei 
Chandler preached from these words, " And ihey 
were all filled icith the Holy Ghost.^^ He spoke with 
unusual liberty ; I caught some of the same fi>e 
with which the sermon was delivered ; and inter- 
preted it with much ardor. O what a melting 
season it was! The anxious and expressive 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWII. 97 

looks of the Indians ; the tears streaming down 
their cheeks, all tended to add to the occasion. 
My readers, here was comfort; here was one 
bright spot, at least, in my checkered life, that I 
never can forget. My poor brethren appeared to 
swallow every word of the sermon as I interpret- 
ed it. One John South wind, who had been no- 
toriously cruel and revengeful, was among the 
humblest and the happiest. He had been a great 
Conjurer. 

On Sabbath evenings, every converted Indian 
would try to induce his relatives to embrace re- 
Uo-kii, and pray in the wigwams of their uncon- 
verted relatives. These happy scenes often made 
me forget home. 

Mapy of the unconverted, were very revenge- 
fi -1 ; but we let them expend their vengeance on 
•lie air. One of them, KaJi-he-icah-be-ko-kay, i. e. 
Spear Maker, threatened to tomahawk us, if we 
hould come to his wigwam "with the white 
ivian's religion;" "for," said he, "already some 
of my family are very sick and craz)^" Not- 
Avithstanding this threat, we commenced our 
visits, and with no other weapon than a little 



98 THE LIFE OF 

calico bag containing our Testament and Hymn 
Book. AVhenever he saw us near his wigAvam 
(we were obliged to pass near his in visiting 
other wigwams), he would run out, and grumble 
and growl like a bear escaping from its den for 
life. Li this way we continued our visits, and 
had opportunities to converse with the family, 
which resiTlted in the conversion of all his chil- 
dren. In the month of Februar}'", he himself 
came to us, and plead earnestly for our forgiveness. 
He had gone out to hunt the Martin, with his 
youngest daughter, who was about ten years old. 
While her father was preparing a martin trap, or 
dead-fall, as it is sometimes called, the daughter 
slipped behind a tree, knelt in the snow, and 
prayed for her father. The Lord heard her 
prayer. The old man " felt sick in his heart," 
and every thing he looked at, appeared to frown 
upon him, and to bid him " go to the missiona- 
ries, and they will tell you how you can be 
cured." He returned home three days earlier 
than he had intended. Just after day-dawn, 
we heard a number of Indians praying. John 
Southwind came in and said tons, ^' Ke-ge-ke-ica- 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 99 

ye-7cah, Kak-he-wah-hc-koo-hay kc-che-ah-koo-sey, '' ' 
i. e. Your friend Sjyear Maker is very sick; he 
wishes you to call at his wigwam and pray with 
him. This was good news indeed ! We went 
at once, and prayed Avith him. He could not 
speak ; but sat sobbing and sighing over the fire. 
We conversed with him, and then left him ; but 
before breakfast he entered our house with his 
large medicine sack containing little gods of 
almost every description. He stood before us, 
and said, " Ah bay, ah ivas ah yah mook,^^ — here, 
take this. He cast the bag, or sack, down upon 
the floor, and wept and sobbed bitterly, saying, 
" I have done all I could against you, but you 
have been my friends. I want you to pray for 
me, and to burn these gods, or throw them where 
I can never see them." Shortly after this inter- 
view, he obtained religion, and became truly 
happy in the Lord. 

There were many equally interesting conver- 
sions about 'this time. I must here mention 
what was often very amusing to the missiona- 
ries, and would often create a smile, if nothing 
more. When some of the Indians were under 



100 THE LIFE OF 

conviction, they would take some of their own 
medicines (herbs) to cure their " sickness," — for 
so they termed conviction. An old medic ?ne man 
once sent a message to us, stating that his (laiigh- 
ter was dying ; and that it v/as caused by <jwi: 
singing and praying before her so much ; he airro 
added, that in the event of her death, he would 
have his revenge by killing us, and insisted jpon 
it, that we must come immediately, and endc.^t'^')r 
to relieve her. We went, and after having pj i.v- 
ed with her for some time, she revived, and ex- 
pressed her confidence that the Holy Spirit had 
operated upon her heart. The old man soon 
became convinced that his daughter wps not dy- 
ing, except unto sin ; he, therefore, at Otice, be- 
came reconciled and delighted too. 

We now commenced traveling on snovv' shoes 
within fifteen or twenty miles around, where the 
Indians wei^ hunting, praying, and preaching t ) 
them. The Lord owned and blessed our labors 
wherever we went. We held prayer meetings 
in the woods. All tliis time the Alah-je Mon-c-doo 
(Bad Spirit) was not asleep. In the spring th ; 
Heathen party started in a body to visit their old 



KAH-G?>GA-OAH-BO\VH. 101 

fiiend Spear Maker, for the purpose of uniting 
with him in dancing, and in their medicine wor- 
ship ; but the old man had too much religion in 
fiim \o gratify them. As soon as they discovered 
thii: they could not prevail upon the old man, 
tliey sent word to all, that they could excel us in 
worshiping the Great Spirit; and that they in- 
tendov to hold their regular spring Grand Medi- 
cm^ Worship. Every night we held meetings. 
They commenced with their paw-icahs (singing), 
and beating of the drums on the other side of 
the >:?y, and continued it for a whole week. 
We kept up our usual meetings; and at the end 
of the w^eek, their drumming, singing, and danc- 
inj?- c^as^d. We continued our meetings for two 
months. The Chief of this place, was yet uncon- 
v€i.:. d. 

During this spring, Brother Clark, our Super- 
ir indent, arrived from the SaultSt. Marie, with 
brother William Herkimer and family, and my 
cousin Johnson. These were to take our places 
in the Mission. We had now an excellent quar- 
levly meeting. Brother Clark preached a sensi- 
ble and warm sermon; my cousin interpreted it. 

13 



102 THE LIFE OF 

It was a blessed time; over twenty were ba;>- 
tised before the services began. There was a 
circumstance which rendered the occasion pecu- 
liarly interesting ; an old Indian woman of about 
eighty years, came crawling to the meeting, for 
she was unable to walk ; her name was Anna. 
The year before, she had traveled three hundred 
and fifty miles in a canoe, to be baptised by Bro- 
ther Clark. She now lived about two miles from 
our Mission, and on the Sabbath, was brought to 
meeting in a canoe. But on this Sabbath, the wind 
was so high that no canoe could be launched. 
In the morning, after the others had left, she start- 
ed for meeting, and crawled over logs, through 
creeks, and other difficult places near the edges 
of rocks. Old Anna made her appearance in 
the house, to the astonishment as well as to the 
delight of all. She seated herself in front of the 
preacher, and listened attentively to the words 
of eternal life. She united with others in praising 
God for his mercy and goodness, especially to 
herself. She then partook of the body and blood 
of her Saviour. She spoke of the day in which 
she was in darkness ; but now she knew, by ex- 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 1 03 

perience, that the Lord had forgiven her sins. 
S le cared not for the tocUer, imid, or 2WPxi])ices^ if 
she couid only crawl or creep to meeting, for she 
felt well rewarded, because the Lord blessed her. 
She did not, like some, fear to soil her clothes ; 
neither was she a fair day visitor of meeting. 
Before her conversion, she was a celebrated con- 
jurer, and a dread to the nation ; every one was 
afraid to incur her displeasure. The last time I 
saw her, was in 1842, and she was still confiding 
in the Lord. 

We v/ere now to accompany Brother Clark to 
St. Marie. We started on Tuesday afternoon at 
about three o'clock, in our large bark canoe, 
which was about thirty-six feet long, five feet 
wide in the centre, and three feet high. We 
paddled about nine miles. On the next morn- 
ing, we hoisted our sail before a fresh breeze and 
sailed at the rate of nine knots an hour. We 
reached the point on the Sand Banks in the 
evening, having previously tarried three hours 
with the Indians at Grand Island. The next 
day we sailed about six miles from the shore ; it 
was quite boisterous; and when in the trough of 



'^; 



104 THE LIFE OF 

the wave it was impossible for us to see the land , 
We now came within a few miles of White-fish 
Point. On the following day we hoisted our sail 
again, and had a favorable wind ; we went down 
the Falls of St. Marie in handsome style, about 
twelve o'clock. Wauh-ke-neich* (White Eagle) 
walked about Sault St. Marie attending to the 
interests of the Missions. He was the theme of 
conversation in every circle, for none had ever 
traveled the distance in so short a time. The 
traders were much surprised. The Indians could 
hardly think it possible for any person to travel 
the distance in so short a time. 

Note. — On our way to St. Marie, we saw that 
one of the Points of Grand Island had sunk. It 
was formed of quicksand. It was told to the 
trader, Charles Holiday, by the Indians, that the 
Great Spirit had removed from under that point 
to some other place, because the Methodist Mis- 



* This was the name given by my poor brethren to Brother Clark, anil a 
more Appropriate one could not have been given. — The King of Birds. 
Tliey knew that he Imd come to be instrumental in saving their never (iying 
«oiiip. 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 105 

sionaries had encamped there the previous fall, 
and had, by their prayers driven the Spirit from 
under the point. They did not wish the mis- 
sionaries to encamp any where on their Island 
again, fearing that the Island would sink. 



lOG THE LIFE OF 



CHAPTER XI. 



We spent a few weeks at. the Sault with the 
brethren, with whom we had some precious sea- 
sons. We were soon informed by our beloved 
Superintendent that three of us would have to 
go to Ottawa Lake : — Taunchey, Marksman, and 
myself We had, as was supposed, provisions 
enough to last till we reached La Pointe, where 
we were to obtain a fresh supply for seven 
months. Brothers Tah-yash, and Ma-mah-skah- 
irasli i. e. Fast-sailer, accompanied us. We had 
a new canoe, good oars, and a new sail. After 
leaving, the first place which we arrived at Avas 
about six miles above the Sault St. Marie. We 
here saw a porcupine on the beach ; and having 
beat it to death, we cooked and ate it for supper. 
After this we were wind-bound for several days, 
which delayed our arrival at the Ke-wa-we-non 



y 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 107 

Mission, on our way to La Pointe. On entering 
Aunce Bay, we were in ninch danger. The 
wind rose, with a dense fog accompanying it, 
and we were without a compass. We steered 
our course by the wind. We were very near be- 
ing dashed to pieces against a large rock a few feet 
from us, which we espied just in time to avoid. 
I had been on Lake Superior, but never saw the 
waves run so high as on the present occasion. 
It was truly wonderful that our bark canoe stood 
the sea so well. Nor could we see any prospect 
of landing. Still the spray of the gigantic waves 
continued to roll after us in terrific fury. The 
canoe still struggled between the mountain 
waves, and then would rise on the top. The sail 
spread itself like a duck just ready to fly. It ap- 
peared at times that we must all perish. But 
God was with us. O how kind and merciful is 
that Being who has the winds and waves in his 
hands ! " O Lord I will praise thee," etc. It is 
religion alone that can support in time of danger. 
Faith lays hold on God. Yes, let distress, sick- 
ness, trials, perils, and even death come, yet if in 
thy hands, O Lord, we are secure. 



108 



THE LIFE OF 



Through a kind providence, we arrived at last 
at Brother Herkimer's, about ten o'clock, A. M. 
How we surprised them when they were told 
that we sailed all the morning through the fog. 
They at once saw the danger ; but we could take 
no other course. We remained here but a few 
days. On Tuesday, we left for La Pointe, one 
hundred and sixty miles. Here was another 
tedious journey, for we were again wind-bound 
for three days ; in consequence of this misfortune 
our provisions were exhausted. We went to 
Ah-too-nah-kun River on Friday evening, and 
traveled all night to reach Porcupine Mountains, 
where we arrived at day light. We stepped out 
of the canoe, took our blankets, wrapped them 
around us, and lay on the solid rocks, where we 
slept about an hour and a half Saturday morn- 
ing arrived, and found us with nothing but half 
a pound of tea ; we were now eighty-eight miles 
from La Pointe. We rowed all the morning, when 
a favorable breeze sprung up, which enabled us 
to gain fifty miles during that day. After night- 
fall we toiled to reach La Pointe by twelve 
o'clock on Saturday night; but we were so fa- 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 109 

tigued, sleepy, and hungry, that it was impossi- 
ble to continue rowing. Now and then a little 
land-breeze would help us along slowly, without 
rowing. At last we were obliged to give up row- 
ing, as the oars were dragging in the water. I 
steered the boat as well as I could. We labored 
hard to keep awake. I thought of the tea ; I 
chewed a mouthful of it and swallowed the 
juice; but in a few minutes I suffered so much 
from a griping pain that I was alarmed. Oh I was 
miserable, sick, and hungry. I could not wake 
any of the company ; and when my pain ceased, 
I could scarcely keep myself awake. I now 
steered for the shore ; it was about twelve o'clock. 
I threw my blanket around me, and left all hands 
sleeping in the boat. I threw up a little bank of 
sand for a pillow, and the soft wet sand was 
my bed. I was soon in the land of Nod. 

Sabbath morning came. I had dreamed that 
we were just about sitting down to a warm break- 
fast, when Peter Marksman awoke me, and said, 
"George, come, get up, blackfast (breakfast, he 
meant, he could speak but little English). If it 

had not been the Sabbath, I might have been iU' 

14 



110 THE LIFE OF 

duced to retaliate. It was indeed, a black/ast, 
dark enough ; nothing to eat, and only tea to drink 
for breakfast, dinner and supper ! and yet, only 
about fiften miles from La Pointe; indeed, we 
could see the place ; and had it not been that it 
was the Sabbath, feeble as we were, we would 
have proceed. Here, then, we spent the Sabbath. 
I walked into the woods, and all that I could think 
of while reading my Bible, was home. I looked 
towards home, and wept at the thought of it. I 
said to myself, O my father, if you knew my 
situation to-day, you would feel for me, and 
fly, if possible, to assist me ! I feel that your 
prayers ascend for me ; and then descend like 
gentle rains, into my soul. Home ! home ! however 
humble, it is still ho7ne. This day, however, is a 
glorious day for my soul ; but how insupportable 
for the body ! We had a prayer meeting in the 
evening, which is still as fresh in my grateful 
memory as if it had but just taken place. 

Monday morning, before the sun arose, we 
were on our way to La Pointe, where we arrived 
about ten o'clock. Mr. Warren, the trader at 
this place, supplied us with some necessaries. 



K AH-GE-G A-G AH-BOWH . Ill 

We breakfasted with him, and never did fish and 
potatoes taste half so sweet as now. 

We called on the Rev. Mr. Hall, and others of 
the Presbyterian Mission. How kindly they re- 
ceived and entertained us ; they compelled us to 
live in their families, while we remained in that 
place. We had now to prepare to depart for Ot- 
tawa Lake, where we had been appointed by 
Brother Clark to spend the winter, in teaching 
the Indians. O what a field for labor in all these 
regions ! Indians, from every direction, congre- 
gate here eveiy summer ; those, too, who have 
never heard of a Saviour ! 

When will all my poor people " sit together in 
heavenly places in Christ Jesus"? When will 
they cease to offer up to the Bad Spirit all they 
possess ? Shall these also perish as did the Indi- 
ans on the eastern coast ? The red men of the 
forest were then unconscious that the white man 
would at some future day, spread his white sails 
on these waters, and claim their native woods ; 
that a steamboat would make its appearance, 
like a monster from the deep, snorting fire and 



112 THE LIFE OF 

smoke, near their shores. God of mercy, save, 
save my poor people. 

We started for the OttaAva Lake about the 
eighth of October, 1835. We had to carry our 
canoes, with the rest of our articles, over eight 
portages, or carrying places, one of which was 
nine, and another five miles long. No language 
can convey an idea of the hardships and toil to 
which we were exposed, before we reached there ; 
for we had to carry all our things over the carry- 
ing places ; and as it was too late in the fall, and 
on account of the disagreeableness of the wea- 
ther, we were obliged to return to La Pointe. 
The winter set in, and we traveled one hundred 
and seventy miles by land. It was on one of these 
carrying places that I carried the heavy load 
mentioned on page 19. 

When we arrived at Ottawa Lake, the Indians 
were glad to see us. The Chief, Moose Ogeed, 
Moose tail, was particularly kind. Here we la- 
bored with success, though at the time many of 
them were absent hunting. I commenced a day- 
school with few scholars. During the winter our 
provisions gave out ; for seven weeks we had 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWn. 113 

nothing, except what we caught by spearing and 
shooting; but in the latter part of the winter 
Ave could neither shoot rabbits, nor spear fish. 
What now was to be done, except to go to La 
Pointe, one hundred and seventy miles, and ob- 
tain some flour. We ran nearly all day through 
the woods, and the next day my feet were blis- 
tered, occasioned by the strap of my snow shoes. 
The young man who accompanied me, suffered 
still more, for the blood was oozing out through 
his naoccasons. At the expiration of two days, 
at about ten o'clock in the morning, we were at 
Rev. Mr. Hall's, at La Pointe. Brother Hall 
could hardly credit the fact that we had walked 
one hundred and seventy miles in kss that two 
days. 

On returning to the mission, we were one week 
on our journey. I had over seventy pounds of 
provisions to carry when I left, and my friend 
and companion, whom I hired, had eighty-five 
pounds. The Indians too were almost starving; 
but the spring opened just in time to save them. 
Li their journey, down the river, we accompanied 
them, and had an opportunity to converse with 



114 THE LIFE OF 

them about religion. On our way, the Indians 
pointed to the battle grounds of the Ojebwas and 
the Sioux. How dreadful and awful was their 
description. The Chief, pointing to a certain 
spot, observed, " There I killed two Sioux, about 
thirteen winters ago ; I cut open one of them ; 
and when I reflected that the Sioux had cut up 
my own cousin, but a year before, I took out his 
heart, cut a piece from it, and swallowed it 
whole. I scooped some of his blood, while warm, 
with my hand, and drank as many draughts as 
the number of friends who had perished by their 
hands." As he spoke, the fierceness of the Indian 
gleamed from his countenance. Ever}'' half mile, 
trees were blazed (barked), and notches made 
according to the number that had been killed. 

The Sioux and the Ojebwas have been at war 
from time immemorial. The neutral ground of 
these two nations, is full of game, such as deer, 
bears, elks, etc. We went down to the Me-no- 
me-nee Mills, on the Chippewa River, where the 
whites were cutting down pine trees. We then 
returned to Ottawa Lake, and, afterwards, to La 
Pointe. 



K,\H-GE-GA-GAH-BO\VH. 115 

During this winter I was with tlie Rev. Mr. 
Hall, at La Pointe, and assisted him in translat- 
ing the Gospel of St. Luke, and the Acts of the 
Apostles, into the Ojebwa tongue. Although I 
have sat hour after hour in assisting him in his 
good work in the west, yet I can never, never re- 
pay him for the kindness and affection shown to 
me. May God reward him for his labors of love, 
and for his Christian benevolence. He is like a 
pure and limpid stream which is ever running, 
and which never dries up. He is like a high 
rock on the sea shore, when the storms and 
waves have passed by, unchanging and unchang- 
ed. He is in all respects the most suitable man 
for this work, being devoted, humble, kind, affec- 
tionate, and benevolent, and is master of our 
language. I hope to see him once, if not many 
times, more, that I may thank him again and 
again for his Christian goodness. May his holy 
and arduous life, and health, be precious in God's 
sight. 

Here I must make a remark. In that country, 
we ought not to know each other as Presbyte- 
rians, Methodists, or Baptists, but only as mis- 



116 THE LIFE OF 

sionaries of the cross. We should labor with 
and for each other ; and do all the good we can. 
Our language should always be, "come bre- 
thren, let us labor side by side, hold up each 
others hands in the work, share each others 
trials and privations; and spread the gospel of 
the blessed God." May many Brother Halls be 
raised up for these stations; so that the poor 
outcast red man, may soon take his station 
among Christians of every civilized clime. 
Should these observations fall under the eye of 
dear Brother Hall, he will, I am sure, forgive me 
for the warm and candid confessions of a sincere 
heart. 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 117 



CHAPTER XII. 



We spent part of the summer at La Pointe, 
waiting for our Superintendent, Rev. John Clark, 
who intended to go by the way of Ottawa Lake 
down the Mississippi. He arrived the latter part 
of June, with his companions. We went in two 
canoes up Bad River, and thence over the Porta- 
ges, already named. We divided our provisions, 
bedding, etc., etc., so that each should carry 
an equal weight. In ascending Bad River we 
were nearly half of the time in the water, drag- 
ing the canoe up the stream. One day Brother 
Clark stepped on a rock above the water, in the 
centre of the river, for the purpose of holding the 
canoe while those that were exceedingly tired, 
might rest. As soon as he had put his foot on 
the rock, the canoe wheeled around with the 

current, which drew him into it, and carried him 

15 



118 THE LIFE OF 

down the river. We were alarmed for some 
time, and it was with the greatest efforts that we 
could save him. At times, we could only see 
his white hat above the water. At first, we 
could not render him the least assistance. The 
stream conveyed him near the shore, where he 
seized the limb of a tree, which enabled him to 
reach land. We hurried to the spot where he 
landed, jumped out of the canoe, and ran after 
him, but before we could see him, we heard him 
cry out " tchoojj," and in a few moments saw 
him coming through the leaves soaking wet. 
We were all thankful indeed to see him alive, 
and so cheerful too. On that day we would not 
permit him to carry but two loads or packs, the 
others carried three. Our wish was that he 
should not at any time carry any thing; but he 
insisted upon helping us, and to this we had to 
submit. This was one of those kind traits which 
endeared him so much to all his fellow laborers. 
He has also shared the last morsel of bread with us. 
Often has he carried the canoe on his back ; and 
when we were discouraged and faint, he would 
encourage vis by his cheerful countenance, and 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 119 

words of consolation. Our sinking hearts have 
often been made to beat with emotions of joy ; 
for during these journeys we had ample reasons 
and time for desponding. But according to our 
trials, did we enjoy the smiles of heaven. 

We were three days going over the Nine Mile 
Portage, where we spent the Sabbath. We had 
three loads each ; and the two canoes were also 
to be carried, each one taking his turn every half 
mile. We were now completely jaded out ; our 
bones ached. This was the hardest journey that 
I ever made, with the exception of the one which 
will hereafter be related. 

After severe toil and privations, we arrived at 
Ottawa Lake, where Brother Clark met the chief 
and some of his warriors in council. He explain- 
ed the object of our visit, viz. to live among them 
and teach them ; to which the chief assented. 

Brother Clark now left Johnson, Marksman, 
and myself here, to do all the good we could. 
On departing, we accompanied him down the ri- 
ver for two days ; and on the first of August we 
bade each other farewell. 

That day, Peter and John were inconsolable, 



120 THE LIFE OF 

because Brother Clark and the rest had left us for 
a whole year. I felt so "choked up" and de- 
serted, that I talked but little during the day. 
After praying, as Brother Clark was parting with 
us, and our heads were resting on the canoe, he 
said, " Brethren, take courage ; do all the good 
you can. Pray much ; trust in God ; tell the In- 
dians how the Saviour died; we will pray for 
you ; good bye ; and may the Lord bless you and 
your labors." 

We returned to Ottawa Lake, and built a 
house, where we resided during the year. Quite 
late in the fall, Johnson and Marksman left me, 
and went to La Pointe, where they remained all 
the winter. It is true, there were but few In- 
dians here, but yet, too many for one teacher. 
They wished me to go with them, but I preferred, 
from a sense of duty, to spend the winter and 
spring in teaching, singing, and praying among 
the people here. In the spring an interesting 
conversion took place; the convert committed 
the fourteenth chapter of St. John before he had 
learned the alphabet. This young man had 
been remarkably kind, and humane, before his 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. I2I 

conversion ; he was more like a Christian than 
any unconverted man I ever saw. I never heard 
any thing proceed from his mouth that was cen- 
surable. One Sabbath morning, while we were 
in the woods, I was reading to him, " God so 
loved the world, that he gave his only begotten 
Son, that whosoever believeth on him, might not 
perish, but have everlasting life." This was like 
an arrow in his heart ; he prayed, and wrestled 
with God, until the Lord spoke peace to his soul. 
In the summer, when Johnson and Marks- 
man arrived, John and I went down to Prairie 
Du Chien, on the IVIississippi. On our way, 
we had to pass through the land of the Sioux, 
the enemies of the Ojebwas, and we knew not 
what would be our fate. However, we pursued 
our course and ventured at their village. As 
soon as we approached, they raised the war- 
whoop and fired some guns over our heads, and 
the bullets either splashed in front of our canoe, 
or whizzed about our heads. Still, we kept on our 
course, and as soon as we stepped from our canoe, 
they seized us, and kept us prisoners for nearly 
three days. When we told them (through an in- 



122 THE LIFE OF 

terpreter) that we were missionaries, they released 
us, and treated us kindly. On the third day we 
were on the water again, on our way to Prairie 
Du Chien, which place we reached, and there 
saw Brother Brunson, the Superintendent for 
that year. We accompanied him to St. Peters, 
near the Falls of St. Anthony; and the same 
summer, through the kindness of Brother Clark, 
we were sent to school near Jacksonville, Illinois. 
To Brother Clark, under God, I owe all the 
education (little as it is) which I now possess. 
Before this, I could neither speak nor read five 
words correctly. Brothers Johnson, Marksman, 
and myself, were placed under the care of the Rev. 
Jno. Mitchell, now an assistant at the Book Con- 
cern, in Cincinnatti. For two years we attended 
school at the Ebenezer Seminary, about tAVo miles 
north of Jacksonville. At this institution, I pass- 
ed some of the happiest seasons of my life. Many 
who were with me at this school, are now minis- 
ters of the Gospel, both among the whites and the 
Indians. The groves seemed vocal with the prai- 
ses of God. The camp meeting, and the quarterly 
meetings, which I then attended, are still fresh 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 123 

in my memory. The remembrance of the many 
dehghtful acquaintances formed, the appoint- 
ments filled, the interesting meetings I attended 
in different parts, about Jacksonville, at Lyn- 
ville, Manchester, Rushville, and Versailes, will 
always hold a seat in my heart. It was here 
that I learned to read the word of God, and often, 
for hours together, upon my knees, in the groves, 
have I been thus engaged. O the sweet com- 
munion I then had with God ! 

Among the many letters which I have since 
received from my school-mates, I will trouble the 
reader only with the following : — 

Mt. Stekling, Brown Co., III. ) 
February 8th, 1845. \ 
Dear Brother Copway, 

With pleasure I improve this privilege of answering youy 
kind epistle, and taking a " paper talk " with you. By the 
blessings of the good Lord, we are well. But I hear you say 
" What does he mean by we?" — Only myself, my wife, and 
boy ! Now if you will pardon me this time for marrying 
young, I will promise never to do so again. But I think you 
will not be severe in your censure, inasmuch as I have a wor- 
thy precedent in you. Brother Troy traveled three years, and 
married Brother Stratten's daughter, of Pike county ; and I^ 
who commenced three years after him, preached two years,^ 
and married another ; so we, who had long been brothers, be- 
came brothers-in-law. Brother Wm. Piper was married since 



124 THE LIFE OF 

conference, to Squire Baynes' daughter, near Columbus. 
Harden Wallace married Miss Bronson, of Athens, one year 
since. Brother S. Spates is on a visit to his friends, and has the 
ague ; neither he nor Reason is married, but have " good de- 
sires." I visited Brother George, two weeks since. 

We have glorious times in religion. O it would have done 
you good to have heard Dr. Akers tell his experience, in our 
last quarterly meeting. In speaking of his sanctification he 
said, with a peculiar emphasis, while his lips trembled and 
tears filled his eyes, "/if loas the reijclation of the Son of God 
in me." But time would fail to tell of these " Ebenezer " boys, 
who through faith, preach " big sermons," exhort thousands, 
" who are valiant in fight," who slaughter many a sinner, 
and wear the marks of many a well fought field, although death 
has done his work among us ! Our faithful teacher, and a be- 
loved schoolmate. Brothers Troy and Piper, are no more ; they 
fell victims to fever just after conference ; but they fell like mar- 
tyrs, they died at their post. Brother Troy and I, attended Bro. 
Piper's funeral (the sermon was preached by Brother Berryman) 
at Barry. It was a solemn time. While I stood by his coffin, 
I thought of you all, and of Brother Huddlestun, who had gone 
before him. The day before I left. Father Stratten, Brother 
Troy, and I, walked out on the Mississippi bluffs, while the 
bright surface of the river reflected upon us the last rays of 
the setting sun. We talked of the happy days of other years, 
spent with kindred spirits now scattered over the world. His 
breast seemed warmed at the recollection. The flame of his 
zeal mounted high, and pointing to the bright waters that rolled 
in the distance, he said, " I feel like preaching till the last sin- 
ner on the last tributary of that stream is converted to God." 
Alas ! he had even then preached his last sermon. Peace to 
their memory. " They taught us how to live, and O how high 
the price of knowledge, taught us how to die.'''' Sister Piper, 
and her two children, live at her own home in Barry ; Sister 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 125 

Troy, with one child, lives with her father. You have, per- 
haps, read the obituaries of Brothers Benson, Otwell, Corey, 
Edmunson, and Hale — gone home. Brother N. W. Allen, 
married down south, and John Mathers to Miss Julia Tucker. 
Brother Heddenburg is in Springfield. I believe M. has con- 
cluded not to marry, but to keep house for her father. Moses 
C. lives and prospers in Petersburgh Circuit. 

March \^th. I commence again, not having time to finish 
when I commenced. I record with sorrow the death of our 
child, aged eight months. The affliction of one short week, 
carried him beyond the sorrows incident to mortality, to rest 
with God. O it was a trial to see him sink in death, and bear 
him to the grave. But now, thank God, 

'• The stoiin that wrecks the winter sky. 

iS'o more disturbs his sweet i-epose, 
Than summer evening's latest sigh, 

That shuts the rose." 

The Lord has given us some tokens for good ; we have some 
glorious prayer and class meetings. Thirteen joined on my 
last round. I expect Brother Wallace with me at a protracted 
meeting next vreek ; can you not come too ? 

Well, Brother George, how do you get along in religion ? 
This is the subject all important. Time, in its rapid roll, still 
bears us on. The sun stood still in Gibeon, but time did not 
stand still. The sun went back ten degrees on the dial of 
Ahaz, but time rolled on with unremitting speed. Mutation 
is written all around us. The little flower, so bright, is nip- 
ped by the untimely frost of winter. The rainbow is beautiful, 
but it passes away with the weeping cloud. And how soon 
the fleeting years of time will be lost amid the mighty cycles 
of eternity. And yet, my brother, we know that on this inch 
of time hang everlasting things. Lord, help us to stamp 

16 



126 THE LIFE OF 

every moment with improvement. Now, if God has entrusted 
to us the care of souls immortal, how should we pray and la- 
bor, lest we should lose a prize so dear ! 

Brother George, I shall never forget our band society, and 
" young men's " prayer meeting ; these were precious seasons. 
Though I view my brethren falling round me, the hope of im- 
mortality makes " the valley of the shadow " flame with the 
glory of God. Thank God for religion that can conquer death, 
and view the grave as but a subterranean passage to the skies. 
Go on — I expect to hail you in a better clime. Brother, I 
think I have experie7iced that the blood of Christ clea?isethfroni 
all sin. glorious truth ! Have you not found it too ? It is 
by simple Faith. 

" Failk has an eye uo tears can dim ; 

A heart no griefs can stir. 
She bears the cross, and looks to Him 

Who bore the cross for lier." 

Go on, brother; the land of rest lies just across the rolling 
tide of Jordan. Methinks I see a Troy, a Huddlestun, and 
Piper, put forth their hands from the banks of glory, to beckon 
us onward. They look out for us ; let us not disappoint 
them ! You know the north and south talk of division ; thank 
God they can't divide me, nor break those ties that bind me to 
good brethren everywhere, from whom "joy, nor grief, nor 
time, nor place, nor life, nor death, can part." 

I must close my scattering letter, though not half done. 
Brother come down, and I'll try and tell yow the rest. We can 
go over to Ebenezer and have a meeting. Pitner is there now. 
He says that the Lord has the best market in the universe ; 
christian duties are always good sale there, and then we are 
sure to get a " back load " of grace. He says, " the Lord has 
a great big two-story ware-house : the promise of the life that 
now is, that's the lower story; and of that which is to come, 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 127 

this is the upper story. There," says he, "brethren, I'll not 
tell you any more, you'll have to die to know the rest." 

My very best respects to your lady, and the little Copways. 

Yours, fraternally, 

WILLIAM J. RUTLEDGE. 

N. B. Dr. Vandevanter, Brother Bond, and many others, 
still speak of your preaching at Versailes. We have some 
good times there now. Brothers Billy and Cabbie Patterson 
are married ; yes, and Aquilla too. He preaches, and tea- 
ches school. Brothers Saxon still goes it with a rush. The 
" first year " class of boys in this conference, are now first 
rate; some of them could almost stride a mountain. O sir, 
it would do you good to see Brother Billy Piper throw his sear- 
ing thunderbolts and rive the forest oak, or bury them in the 
smoking earth. See him rise in the fulness of his strength, 
and exclaim, " Man fell ; Heaven was robed in silence. Earth 
in sorrow, and Hell alone was glad." Farewell. 

W. J. R. 

I attended several of the Conferences ; the last 
of which was in Bloomfield, in 1839, where I 
parted with some of my dearest friends and com- 
panions, for nine months. Still it was pleasant 
to reflect that the Conference had appointed 
Brothers Spates, Huddleston, Johnson, and Peter 
Marksman, to labor at the head of the Mississippi. 
Brother Kavanaugh was appointed Superinten- 
dent of the Missions for that year. I was allowed 
to visit home in the fall, to see my friends. I 



128 THE LIFE OF 

traveled to Chicago free of expense; I drove 
a pair of fine grey horses for an individual who 
was on his road to that place. We slept in our 
wagons every night. At Chicago* I embarked in 
a schooner for Buffalo ; but getting tired of this, 
left it at Detroit, and took steamboat for Buf- 
falo, where I arrived just about day light. T 
had lost my cap, the wind blew it into the lake, 
with my pocket-book, containing $27 in bills, 
and $2 • 50 in silver, with a silk handkerchief, in 
which my all was wrapped. Here I was, mo- 
neyless, friendless, and hatless, and in a strange 
land ! I had, however, a little change left. I had 
made up my mind to visit the East before my re- 
turn to Canada. But this must now be abandon- 
ed. I walked about Buffalo quite disheartened. 
At last I saw on a sign "Temperance Hotel." 1 
concluded to put up at this house, and to my sur- 
prise and joy, the landlord was a Avarm hearted 
Methodist — James Madison. At night, I accom- 
panied him to the prayer meeting, where he told a 
Brother Copeland my circumstances. They made 

* Chicago signifie.s the place of tkunks. 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 129 

up the whole amount of my loss, and gave me a 
dollar over. I could now visit the East as I had 
purposed before my loss. The next day I started 
for Rochester, where I spent the Sabbath. I was 
very anxious to see the great cities of which I 
had read so much at school. I resolved to go 
through thick and thin for the sake of seeing 
New- York. At Rochester I stopped with Brother 
Colby; Miss Colby perceiving that I was not 
warmly clad, gave me a cloak which she obtain- 
ed from Brother S. Richardson. Should either, 
or both, of these dear friends see these remarks 
concerning their kindness, I hope they will ex- 
cuse me for thus mentioning their names. I must 
thank them again for their goodness ; I often re- 
member them in my closet and by the wayside. 
May God reward them, and all other friends. 

On Monday, I left for Albany. AVhen I reach- 
ed Syracuse, I took the long-looked for rail road. 
We were soon on our way, movmg along like a 
streak of lightning. In the morning I arrived in 
Albany in time for the morning boat for Ncav- 
York. I walked around this Dutch city; and 
as every thing appeared to be somewhat new, 



loO THE LIFE OF 

I was interested, especially with the vessels, 
&c. As I wished to be economical, I left with- 
out any breakfast. I was charmed with the 
steamboat. We passed down the Hudson ; the 
towns, villages, and the splendid scenery en- 
chanted me. I had seen but very few such mag- 
nificent scenes before. 

About noon, a plain looking man approached 
me ; I discovered at once that he was of that 
class of men called Quakers. He spoke of what 
they were doing for the Indians in New- York. 
I was very much interested with his conversa- 
tion. I felt glad and proud to have the honor 
and pleasure of seeing, and conversing with one 
of Penn's descendants — the friend of the poor 
Indians. While conversing with him, the bell 
was rung for dinner ; he wished me to go down 
and eat ; I told him I was obliged to be saving, 
as I had but little money and was not accustom- 
ed to traveling. Upon saying this, he pulled out 
a dinner ticket from his pocket, and said, " Friend, 
thou must take this and come down to dinner." 
I had an exalted opinion of the Quakers before, 
but this kind act increased my feelings, and con- 



KAH-GE-GA-G AH-BOWH . 131 

firmed all that I had ever heard of their gene- 
rosity to my poor people. " God bless the Qua- 
kers," said I, silently, as I descended to dinner. 
After dinner we finished our conversation. He 
said he was on his way to Philadelphia. God 
bless him wherever he is. He has my kindest 
wishes. 

In the evening I arrived at New- York, and went 
immediately to see Brother Mason, who directed 
me to go to Sister Luckey's, in Broome street, 
where I tarried during my stay. 

On the 25th of October, came that great jubilee 
of Methodism. In the morning I went with Dr. 
Bangs to meeting. He preached the centenary 
sermon, which was afterwards printed. In the 
evening I attended the Allen street Station. Oh 
what a happy meeting this was. Here I saw some 
of the greatest among them weep for joy. " Amen, 
halleluiah, glory to God," and similar ejacula- 
tions, rang through, and filled the house. In 
this vast assembly was a solitary Indian — George 
Copway ! Never can I forget that evening ! 
Whatever may be my future lot in this life, I 
will always thank God for the privilege of attend- 



132 THE LIFE OF 

ing these services. May the Lord pour out his 
Spirit on all his churches. 

The next day I visited Newark, N. J., to see 
Brother Abraham Hedenburg, with whom I had 
become acquainted in Illinois, at the house of 
his Brother James. Here I met with a great deal 
of kindness. Brother Bartine, of the Franklin 
Station, requested me to preach for him in the 
morning; and Brother Ayers, of the Northern 
Station, invited me to preach for him in the even- 
ing. Brother Ayers gave me about $8 • 00 worth 
of books, which I had the pleasure of perusing 
during the winter. This was a favor — a dis- 
tinguished favor indeed. I have seen that dear 
Brother but once since. May the Lord be gra- 
cious to him. 

My visit to Brother Hedenburg was deUghful. 
I met many friends here, to whom I can never 
be thankful enough. May God visit them in 
great mercy. I saw them again last summer, 
and partook of their kind hospitalities. I feel 
more and more indebted to them ; especially to 
Brother Hedenburgh. 

My next journey was to Boston. Dr. Bangs 



KAH-GE-G A-G AH-150 WH . 1 33 

gave me a letter of introduction to a brother in 
that city. I remained about two weeks, looking 
at the Yankees and their city. Boston is much 
overrated; there are a iQW, very few pretty spots; 
the rest is crooked and narrow. It is far behind 
New York, Philadelphia, and perhaps Baltimore, 
and New Orleans. I met with a few choice spi- 
rits — Brothers King, Rand, Wise, and Smith ; and 
on the Sabbath, I addressed the Sabbath School 
in Russel street. In the evening we had a de- 
Ughtful meeting. I remained with Brother H. 
Merrell's family during my sojourn, and I shall 
always recollect them with feelings of sincere gra- 
titude. I visited several noted places while in that 
vicinage, — the Monument on Bunker's (or rather 
Breed's) Hill, etc. ; I went also on the top of the 
State House when the sky was clear. It was from 
this point that I saw the works of the white man. 
The steeples, vessels arriving, and others spread- 
ing their sails for distant lands. The wharves 
were filled with merchandise. A few steam- 
boats were running here and there, breathing out 
fire and smoke. On my left, I noticed several 

towns. The steam cars from Worcester rolled 

17 



134 THE LIFE OF 

on from the west ; others were starting for Provi- 
dence, and whizzed along the flats like a troop 
of runaway horses. Here were factories in diife- 
rent directions. As I saw the prosperity of the 
white man, I said, while tears filled my eyes, 
*' Happy art thou, O Israel, who is like unto thee, 
O i^eople saved by the Lord I'''' When I thought 
of the noble race of red men who once lived and 
roamed in all the land, and upon the waters as 
far as my eye could reach, the following thoughts 
arose in my mind, which I have since penned. 

Once more I see my fathers' land 

Upon the beach, where oceans roar ; 
Where whiten'd bones bestrew the sand, 

Of some brave warrior of yore. 
The groves, where once my fathers roam'd — 

The rivers, where the beaver dwelt — 
The lakes, where angry waters foam'd — 

Their charms, with my fathers, have fled. 

O ! Tell me, ye " pale faces," tell. 

Where have my proud ancestors gone 1 
Whose smoke curled up from every dale. 

To what land have their free spirits flown 1 
Whose wigwams stood where cities rise ; 

On whose war-paths the steam-horse flies ; 
And ships, like mon-e-doos in disguise. 

Approach the shore in endless files. 

f now visited the Missionary Rooms of the 
American Board, whose invaluable labors are felt 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 135 

throughout the globe. I saw some articles, 
wrought by our people in the west, such as bead 
work, porcupine quills, moccasons, war clubs, etc. 
I thought, that if Brother Greene had seen as 
much of war clubs as I had (for I have seen them 
stained with blood and notched according to the 
number of individuals they had slain), he would 
conceal them from every e)''e. 



136 



THE LIFE OF 



CHAPTER XIII. 



About the 4th of November, I took my leave of 
Boston, for the great commercial emporium, on 
my route homewards. My traveling companion 
was the Hev. E. Taylor, the sailor's friend. He 
was on his way to Philadelphia to preach. I 
should suppose that a better sailor's preacher 
cannot be found in the Union. I was much 
pleased with his conversation. In one of his 
public addresses, I was told that he said, " When 
I die, smother me not under the dust ; but bury 
me in the sea, where the sea- weed will be my 
winding sheet, the coral my coffin, and the sea 
shell my tomb stone." I heard an individual 
say of him, " Start him where you will, he will 
go to sea." 

I was now, once more, in the magnificent city 
of New- York. I bought a few books at the Book 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 137 

Rooms. After surveying the beauties and curio- 
sities of the city, I left in the steamboat Roches- 
ter for Albany. I spent one day in Albany, and 
attended a Methodist prayer meeting. The Rev. 
Mr. Seymour, the preacher in charge at the Divi- 
sion street Station, introduced me to Brother 
Page, who had the charge of the South Ferry 
street Church. At the latter church I was pre- 
sent at a delightful and soul-stirring meeting. 

The following day I took the canal for Syracuse 
and Oswego. On my way from Schenectady to 
Utica I preached twice on board the boat ; and 
even here I found some pious souls. I observed 
the tears falling from several eyes. " The Lord 
be praised," was the language of my heart. 
When shall this poor heart, feel fully and wholly 
alive, to the unsurpassed favors of Heaven ? 

I took a steamboat at Oswego, and arrived 
at Kingston, C. W., on the evening of Nov. 11. 
Here I had to pay duties on the books which I 
had obtained in New-York. The amount to be 
paid was $32 • 50, and I had but $27. I went to 
Charles Oliver, Deputy Collector ; and as soon as 
I laid my circumstances before him, he said, " pay 



138 THE LIFE OF 

the $27, and I will advance you the balance ; and 
as soon as you reach home, write to Mr. McCau- 
ley, the Inspector General, who lives in Toronto, 
and inform him who you are ; he will, doubtless, 
authorize me to refund you the money." I did 
so, and shortly afterwards received the whole 
amount. In this public way, I would express 
my most hearty thanks to these gentlemen for 
their acts of kindness towards an Indian stranger. 
I arrived at Rice Lake on the 12th day of No- 
vember, 1839, having been absent from home five 
years and four months. Never did I feel so re- 
joiced as when I stood on the top of a hill, and 
saw my village, seven miles across the lake. I 
gazed upon it with pure delight ; and as I took a 
retrospective view of all the scenes which I had 
passed through, I wondered at myself, and at the 
great goodness of God. I knelt down, and "bless- 
ed and thanked Him who liveth for ever," for his 
unspeakable goodness to a child of sin. While 
crossing the lake, I was in perfect ecstacies ; my 
heart leaped with joy; and my thoughts and 
emotions were at my home long before my per- 
son. Oh how tedious and tardy the boat seemed 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 139 

to be ; I wished for wings several times. But at 
last, I planted my foot upon the spot on which I 
had been reared from my infancy, and where 
some of the sweetest and happiest recollections 
of my life were centered. But "every sweet has 
its bitter." On inquiring for some of my rela- 
tives, I was informed that they had left this, for a 
better life. Many of my old friends and ac- 
quaintances had gone to try the realities of an- 
other world. Numbers were bathed in tears, and 
the wounds of their hearts were re-opened. My 
own heart seemed to bleed at every pore. What 
a painful interview ! I now requested to be shown 
the graves of my dear relatives and friends. I 
wended my way to these consecrated grounds, 
and sighed and wept over them. My reflections 
were solemn indeed ! I followed many of them, 
in my thoughts, to heaven, whither they doubt- 
less now are, celebrating the praises of God 
around the throne of the blessed Bedeemer. This 
was great consolation amidst my griefs; and I 
now felt determined, with God's assistance, to 
follow them, so far as they followed Christ, and 
thus be prepared to unite with them in the songp 



140 THE LIFE OF 

of the upper world, whenever God shall see fit 
to call me hence. 

Brother John Sunday, was at this time, station- 
ed in our village. The Lord soon visited this 
Mission with a glorious revival ; many were con- 
verted, and others reclaimed. The tracts that I 
had received at the Book Rooms, and the books 
from the American Tract Society (N. Y.), I distri- 
buted among those that could read, and they 
were duly appreciated. I believe that these were 
the means which prepared their minds to relin- 
quish the world, and place their hope in God. 

I will now speak of Christmas and New Year. 
When Christmas arrived, we were invited to a 
centenary tea party, in company with the Rev. 
William Case, the well known friend of the In- 
dians. The party met at Alderville, eight miles 
from the Mission. This was a season of much 
joy and happiness. The Chiefs referred to the 
time when they were without the gospel. One 
of them said, " Before I heard the gospel, when 
Christmas came, I began to thank the Great 
Spirit for the day on which I could get plenty 
of v'hiskey. Brothers, you know how often I 



KAII-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 141 

was dragged through the snow to my wigwam, 
where my wife and children were cold and hun- 
gry. Now, I drink tea instead of ichiskcy, and 
have reUgion with it ; now my house is comforta- 
ble ; and my children are pious and happy. I 
expect to pursue a Christian course till I arrive 
in heaven. My fond hope is to meet these good 
missionaries in the land of bliss ; and not only 
these, but also the good John Wesley, with whom 
I expect to shake hands there." John Sunday's 
brother (Big Jacob), said, " When the Methodists 
were preaching to our people, I heard that the 
chiefs and warriors were frequently in tears. I 
then said, I would not shed tears were I to hear 
them. Still, I wished to understand for myself. 
I went, with a full determination not to behave 
myself like a ivoman, I mean by crying. I sat 
near the door. The preacher was speaking about 
the Saviour's dying on the cross, while the In- 
dians all around were sobbing. I began to feel 
serious, and then the tears fell involuntarily. 
Frequently, I wiped my eyes, but still the tears 
would flow. I asked myself, am I crying tool 

Brethren, I was ashamed to exhibit tears; but 

18 



142 THE LIFE OF 

now [here he raised his hand to heaven], it is not 
through cowardice that I cry, for I never shed a 
tear on the battle field, nor even when my child- 
ren or my friends lay dead before me. No ! I 
never dropped a tear. I feel to-nig-ht very happy 
and thankful to know that the Great Spirit did 
not, while I was in darkness, say, ' I will never 
bless this Indian.' I feel an ardent love for you 
all. I love Jesus, who has done so much for sin- 
ful me." He then sat down ; Brother John Sun- 
day now arose, and interpreted what his brother 
had just said ; and at the close of his remarks, he 
turned to the whites, who had come here from Co- 
bourg, and several other places, and said, " Bro- 
thers, that was a great big mercy, for that g7rat 
big man." 

I might add other cases here, but it is scarcely 
necessary. Suffice it to say that we enjoyed the 
services throughout. As I looked around, I re- 
cognised some, whom I knew, and had often 
seen before the gospel reached us, and who had 
usually spent Christmas in the gutter, — degrad- 
ed, miserable, and starving. The language of 
the Psalmist might well have been quoted by 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 143 

each of these poor brethren: — "Thou hast raised 
me up out of the filthiest sink (English transla- 
tion, ' the miry clay '), and hast planted my feet 
firmly on a rock." Yes, the rock Christ Jesus. 

New Year's day was observed in the same re- 
ligious manner. And I cannot but remark here, 
that it is to be greatly regretted that so many 
Christians in the States spend this day in gadding 
about from house to house, and indulging in luxu- 
ries to excess. Nay, more ; I have been inform- 
ed that not a few professors entertain their visi- 
tors with fire-water, or devil's spittle, on that day. 
What a contradiction this would be in the esti- 
mation of converted Indians, were they to witness 
these scenes. 

During the winter, the General Council of the 
Nation, was held at the Credit River Mission. 
Chief Joseph Sawyer was elected President of 
the Council. This noble chief has filled the 
chair several times since, with great credit. Se- 
veral petitions, and other important documents 
were drawn up and signed by the different chiefs, 
to be presented to the Government of Canada. 
The whole Council waited on the Governor Ge- 



144 THE LIFE OF 

neral, Lord Sydenham, in a body ; they presented 
their petitions (see Note A, at the end of this 
chapter). In reply, we received but Httle satis- 
faction ; he closed his note, by saying, " My 
children, for the present, I bid you all Farewell." 
His Lordship did not even deign to affix his 
name to the note. Since then, nothing has been 
heard of our papers, and therefore we must con- 
clude that they have been laid under the table. 
But what could be expected of a '■'■ father^'' who 
could smile in the presence of his " children^'' 
and yet stab them in the dark ? See Note B, at 
the close of the chapter, where the reader may 
find an extract from his letter to Lord John Bus- 
sell. To rebut his false representations, I would 
appeal to the Beport of the Commissioners on 
Lidian Affairs in Canada; to the missionaries; 
and to the whole civilized and christianized po- 
pulation of the Chippewa nation. I can there- 
fore say, without the fear of respectable contra- 
diction, that his assertions have no foundation in 
truth. A few drunken Indians, it is true, may 
be found in Canada ; and these alone, would be 
willing to call him Father. 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 145 

It was at this General Council that I became 
acquainted with Captain Howell's family, of To- 
ronto, formerly of England, and after an intimate 
acquaintance of some six months, I was united 
in marriage to his daughter Elizabeth. My wife 
has been a help, meet indeed ; she has shared my 
woes, my trials, my privations ; and has faith- 
fully labored to instruct and assist the poor In- 
dians, whenever an opportunity occurred. I of- 
ten feel astonished when I reflect upon what she 
has endured, considering that she does not pos- 
sess much physical strength. I can truly say 
that she has willingly partaken of the same cup 
that I have, although that cup has often contain- 
ed gall. I trust, that I have not transgressed the 
bounds of delicacy, in speaking of one who has 
sacrificed so much in becoming the partner of an 
Indian missionary. I will simply add, that Mr. 
and Mrs. Howell, and their daughters Caroline 
and Elizabeth, were then, and are now, members 
of the Methodist Church. 

In the spring which preceded my marriage, I 
was appointed by my people at Rice Lake, to 
transact some business for them at Toronto. I 



146 THE LIFE OB' 

accordingly left Rice Lake and reached Toronto 
in April. Just before leaving for Rice Lake, 1 
called to see my cousin, Thomas Kezhig, who 
was confined to his house by consumption. 
While on my journey homewards, between To- 
ronto and Port Hope, as I was sleeping on one of 
the sofas of the steamboat, I had the following 
singular dream in relation to my cousin above 
mentioned : — 

I found myself in a path on a wide plain, 
which led towards the south, between two cotta- 
ges. I was impressed with a belief that it was 
my duty to proceed to the end of the road, which, 
from appearances, great multitudes had walked 
over. On nearing the cottages, I discovered a 
small gate, attended by a keeper. At first, he re- 
fused me an entrance, but after much persuasion, 
he permitted me to pass, extorting from me a 
promise, to return as soon as I should reach a 
certain spot, from which I could see the end of 
the path. I passed through the gate and travel- 
ed over a beautiful rolling country, with groves, 
flowers, and fruits, on my right and on my left, 
which delighted my eyes ; while the singing of 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 147 

birds delighted my ears. I walked through seve- 
ral streams which ran smoothly over beds of 
beautiful pebbles. From one of these streams I 
drank, and felt much refreshed. In some places, 
I saAV the impress of men's feet on the pebbles, 
which proved that persons had gone before me. 
vSome time after this, I heard several voices con- 
versing about the country to which they were 
traveling. I ascended a hill, from which I be- 
held a scene which no language can describe. 
In front was a large granite rock, in the form of 
a pyramid ; it was exceedingly high ; had seats 
on each side from the bottom to the top; and on 
these, sat a great multitude who had died in the 
Lord. Here and there was a vacant seat. Some, 
however, were standing, and all had a pair of 
wings. Those that were sitting, had wings, and 
seemed ready to fly ! On the very summit, and 
above the rest, there was a spacious seat, or mag- 
nificent throne. One sat on this throne who 
shone like the sun ! Over his crowned head was 
a circle, resembling a rainbow, on which was 
written, with letters of gold, " This is the King 
Jesus." What a splendid sight ! it dazzled my 



148 THE LIFE OF 

eyes. Above his head were clouds of angels ; 
these were performing beautiful gyrations. Some- 
times they descended so low, that I could plainly 
see the upper side of their wings, which reflected 
a brilliant light from the throne. I did not hear 
them speak, but there was a noise like a mighty 
rushing wind, occasioned by their wings which 
were constantly in motion. There were myriads 
upon myriads of these winged angels ; the veiy 
heavens were covered with them. I observed 
between me and this great rock, a river, part of 
which was as black as jet, and the rest as yellow 
as gold. It flowed gracefully along the edge of 
the beautiful green, near the rock. I saw two 
men plunge into its bosom, and swim. As soon as 
they reached the spot where the water was black, 
their clothes fell off of them, and were carried 
away by the current ; while they themselves reach- 
ed the shore on the opposite side. They now 
assumed forms too glorious for tongue or pen to 
(describe ; even imagination must fail here. They 
riow seemed to rise up out of the river ; and as 
they stood upon its bed, with their long white 
wings majestically expanded and dripping, they 



KAH-GE-GA-GAIi-BOWH. 149 

clapped their hands and exclaimed, " Glory to 
God in the highest ; glory and honor to Jesus." 
They now stepped out of the stream, walked 
side by side, and ascended to the seats midway 
up the rock ! While they were ascending, the 
entire multitude cheered and welcomed them. 
" Glory to God," " Halleluiah," with many other 
exclamations, were echoed in loud peals through- 
out the whole region. My eyes wept big burn- 
ing tears, which overflowed my face. I tried to 
join the happy throng in ejaculating halleluiaJi ; 
and made several fruitless attempts to cross the 
river. I felt as if I were fettered, and fastened 
to a stake. Presently, I heard the sound of foot- 
steps behind me ; I turned around suddenly, and 
beheld my cousin Thomas Kezhig, passing along. 
I addressed him, and said, " Where are you go- 
ing, cousin 1 " He replied, " I am going where my 
tnother and sister have gone ; but you must return 
home soon, for you are needed there ; you will 
one day follow us to the skies." I exerted myself 
to approach him, but in vain. He turned about, 
ran down the hill to the water, plunged in, and 

swam like a duck. His clothes now fell off of 

19 



150 THE LIFE OF 

him, as did those of the two individuals referred 
to above. I saw him rise; he exclaimed, " Glory 
to Jesus ! " Som^e one exclaimed from the rock, 
" Thomas Kezhig is come, Thomas Kezhig is 
come." Immediately, two flew from their seats, 
and presented themselves before him, near the 
edge of the water. They embraced each other, 
and clapped their wings, as if filled with joy. O 
what a happy, happy scene ! The immense 
throng of angelic beings witnessed this sight, and 
lowered their flight. Those on the rock, now 
stood up at his approach, and flapped their 
wings. The two who had flown to him, led him 
by the hand to a seat. Every eye was now upon 
him; and the Avhole heavens seemed to echo, 
" Welcome to thy rest, thou cklld of affliction T I re- 
cognized in these two, his mother and sister, 
who had died a few years before, with a hope 
full of glory. I could have given worlds for per- 
mission to cross the river. I wept sorely, and felt 
it incumbent to return, according to my promise, 
to the keeper of the gate. The keeper inquired, 
" well, did you see them ?" But my heart Avas 
too full to give utterance to my thoughts. 1 now 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 151 

awoke, much agitated, and still weeping. 1 
looked at my watch, and discovered that it was 
a quarter past one o'clock, P. M. 

In the evening I met one of my step-brothers 
at Port Hope; he had just arrived. The first 
words that he uttered, were, " Our cousin is no 
more." I inquired, "When did he die?" He 
replied, " To-day, about one o'clock." " Then," 
said I, " he is happy in the realms of bliss." The 
next day, as I stooped over his cold remains, I 
could still see his glorified spirit as in my dream, 
welcomed to the land of angels. O ! " Let me, 
die the death of the righteous, and let my last 
end be like his." I loved him tenderly, and had 
good reason to believe that he also loved me. 
My readers will, I trust, excuse me for having 
inflicted upon them this dream. It is even now 
so vivid in my recollection, and being somewhat 
curious and peculiar, that I have ventured to give 
it. It is but a dream, and I wish it to go just 
for what it is worth, and no more. 

I left Toronto for the west, on the third of June, 
and arrived at Bufialo the same evening, just in 
time to fulfil an engagement. I was to address 



152 THE LIFE OF 

the Simday school Missionary Society at the Me- 
thodist Episcopal Church. I was obliged to leave 
Mrs. Copway at Toronto, as she was not quite 
prepared to depart; but the following day she 
met me in Buffalo. Here the brethren prevailed 
on us to stay over the Sabbath. Sabbath morn- 
ing I preached at Black Rock, and in Buffalo in 
the evening. What a curious, inquisitive, and 
teasing people, some of the Yankees are ! Yet, 
they are very friendly withal, for every one seemed 
to be striving to induce us to go to their homes to 
take tea and to pass the night. I had been mar- 
ried but a few days, and the following were some 
of the questions put to me : — " How did you ob- 
tain your wife ? " "Where were you married ? " 
"Did her father consent?" "How many of 
your people have married our white women?" 
These, and similar inquiries were constantly 
made, and were exceedingly annoying. But 
notwithstanding all this, I could say " farewell 
dear friends of Buffalo ; thank you for your kind- 
ness, your good wishes, and your prayers. Fare- 
well Sister Dobson, Brother M., and Brother Van- 
derpool" — a.7ioble hearted and whole-souled man. 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 153 

On the 7th of June, we parted with my wife's 
sister, Caroline, who had come with my wife 
from Toronto as far as Buffalo. We were soon 
sailing on Lake Erie. On the eighth we were in 
Cleveland. Here we were obliged to stop, as the 
regular boat for Detroit was engaged to convey 
persons to the great Whig Convention at Fort 
Meigs. But we passed a very agreeable time, 
however, especially with Mr. and Mrs. Peet. 
On the twelfth an opportunity offered by which 
we could go as far as Amherstburg, on our way 
to Detroit. The steamboat Milwaukie stopped 
at Cleveland on her route upwards, and on board 
of her we went. Soon we fell in with Rev. John 
Clark, who was on his way from the General 
Conference to Chicago, in company with Rev. 
Mr. Colclazier, of Detroit. It was my design to 
preach on board, but was prevented on account 
of the rolling of the boat, which caused much 
sea-sickness, and our early arrival at Amherst- 
burg. Here we staid one week, and passed many 
happy hours, especially with Sister Scott. From 
Amherstburg we went to Detroit. On the eigh- 
teenth we started from Detroit for Mackinaw, on 



154 THE LIFE OF 

board the steamboat Robert Fulton, which place 
we reached on the twentieth ; here we remained 
a few days with B. Chapman, Esq. Here I heard 
of the death of one of our traders, Lavaque, 
a pious man, and a particular friend. I preach- 
ed his funeral sermon, and then his remains 
were consigned to the grave. Many wept on 
this occasion, for he was much beloved. Mrs. 
Copway was now suffering from chills and fever, 
which she first contracted at Toronto. On the 
twenty-third we took passage on board the steam- 
boat Fairport, and arrived at Green Bay early 
the next morning. Mrs. Copway's indisposition 
induced me to remain here until she should feel 
better. Brother Chenoworth, the stationed preach- 
er, was absent, and it devolved on me to fill his 
pulpit on the Sabbath. We had a most interest- 
ing season in waiting on the Lord. Mrs. Cop- 
way's fevers continued three weeks, and when it 
was thought that she had recovered, we took 
land carriage to Prairie Du Chien. But before 
we had gone many miles, she was again seiz- 
ed with chills and fever, and we were obliged 
to tarry at the house of a Mr. McCarty, His 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 155 

family were kind, and would not receive any 
compensation for their trouble. I now propos- 
ed to Mrs. C. to return to Green Bay, but she 
would not consent, saying, that as we had start- 
ed, it were better to keep on. Every other day 
she had the fever. O how it distressed me to 
witness her affliction. We passed through the 
villages of the vStockbridge and Brother-Town ^ 
Indians. Their lands are good, and it is to be 
hoped that they will continue to conduct them- 
selves well. 

On the ] 7th of July we arrived at Winnebago 
Lake, where we took dinner with Brother White. 
After leaving this place, we had to kindle up a 
fire in the groves several times, in order to cook 
something for breakfast, and for the rest of the 
day ; there being no settlers within twenty miles. 
Some men seem to have come to these " digg- 
ings" only for the purpose of defrauding travelers 
out of their goods and money. For every sUm 
and dirty meal, we had to pay fifty cents. There 
is a house between Fort Winnebago and Prairie 
Du Chien which I can never forget. We had to 
pay fifty cents for each meal(?); twenty-five 



156 THE LIFE OF 

cents for lodging in beds swarming with fleas 
and bugs. Sleep was out of the question ; so I 
spent the hours of the night on the seat of what 
was called a chair. August 23d, we arrived at 
Prairie Du Chien, after much fatigue, having tra- 
veled ten days. Brother Kavanaugh had just 
arrived from St. Peters, and had us conveyed to 
Dubuque, in a canoe. Here, Mrs. Copway re- 
mained, till I returned from the Conference, 
which Avas held at Mount Morris. From Dubu- 
que we went to Prairie Du Chien, in a steam- 
boat ; on the twenty-sixth we were compelled to 
go in our canoe to St. Peters, on account of the 
shallowness of the river. Our company consist- 
ed of Brothers Spates, Huddleston, Brown, Jones, 
Mrs. Copway, her sister, and myself. We en- 
camped, occasionally, on the banks of the Mis- 
sissippi. We were more than two weeks travel- 
ing three hundred miles, to St. Peters. We had 
a tent, which we pitched every night. On the 
26th September, we had to mount the bluffs of 
the Mississippi River ; here we found a number 
of Indian deities, made of stone. Mrs. Copway 
and her sister tumbled them all down into the 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 157 

river. Their worshippers must have been astound- 
ed and mortified when they returned, and dis- 
covered that their gods had vanished. On seve- 
ral occasions we were dripping wet. On the 9th 
of October we arrived at St. Peters ; we here had 
the happiness and privilege of associating with 
the Presbyterian Missionaries three weeks ; they 
were affectionate and truly kind to us. These, 
were Brothers Garvin, Pond, Denton, and their 
wives. We had yet to journey nearly three hun- 
dred miles. After some delay in getting ready, 
we started in our canoe. On the 27th of Octo- 
ber we went about fifteen miles up the river; 
on the twenty-eighth we could proceed no farther 
on account of the ice. Now what was to be done ? 
If the winter set in, while we are on our journey, 
we shall have to suffer much. We therefore con- 
cluded to go by land to Elk Eiver Mission. On 
the twenty-ninth we hired a Frenchman to con- 
vey our things in his cart. It being late when we 
started, we walked but five miles the first day ; we 
really dreaded the journey. On the thirtieth while 
we were crossing Rice River, the cart was upset i 

our provisions and clothes were filled with water.: 

20 



158 THE LIFE OF 

and many of our things were floating down the 
river. I made a fire, and we passed the rest of the 
day in drying our articles ; fortunately, not one of 
us was in the cart. Mrs. Copway exhibited much 
patience and fortitude ; she reproved us for mur- 
muring, on account of this and other mishaps ; 
and laughed, while our pies and cakes were sail- 
ing down the river. On the thirty-first we walk- 
ed the whole day, and reached Rum River, — 
called so, because a barrel of rum had been con- 
cealed there. It would be too tedious to narrate 
all the circumstances connected with the rest of 
our journey. 

On the 6th of November we arrived at the 
Mission, having traveled, in all, about two thou- 
sand and eighty miles. The Indians had fled 
from this Mission, on account of their enemies, 
the Sioux, whom they dreaded. Here, then, we 
had no employment ; no one to instruct ! We now 
endured much suffering. I was taken sick with 
the dysentery, and remained so four months, al- 
though, occasionally, I could move about. Bro- 
ther Huddleston, also, became sick; he was taken 
on the 25th of December, and died on the thir- 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 159 

tieth, of dysentery. This was truly a time of 
trial. We buried him near the banks of the 
Mississippi, on New Year's day. He had come 
here to do good ; but O how inscrutable are the 
ways of God ! The Chief of the Ojebwas had 
now arrived ; and addressed us in the following 
language : — 

" Brothers, I am sorry to see you all in such 
afflicting circumstances. I see that you loved 
him ; and from what little I saw and knew of 
him, I believe he was a good man. He came 
here to do us good, — to teach our children. You 
ask me where you shall bury your Brother. I 
will tell you. Bury him on that little hill [point- 
ing to it], so that we may see his grave as we 
pass up and down the river. I will tell my peo- 
ple to keep the grave in good order, and to re- 
spect it. No grass shall be allowed to grow too 
near it; we will see that it is weeded. Next 
summer, / will build a heap of stones about it, 
that all may see and know where the good man 
lies — he, who came to bless us. Tell his father, 
that the Sioux, our enemies, will not molest his 
remains." 



160 THE LIFE OP 

This chief was not a pious man. Three of his 
warriors, now went to the hill, cleared away the 
.5now, and dug the grave according to our direc- 
tions. We committed his lifeless body to the 
cold grave in a strange land ! I never knew how 
much I loved him, until he was gone. Filled 
with tears, sobs, and sighs, Brother Spates per- 
formed the last sad office, over the remains of 
our dearly beloved brother, while the rude blast 
was blowing the snow in every direction. Just 
before he died, he admonished and entreated us 
to meet him in heaven, where, he assured us, he 
was going. " Blessed are the dead, that die in 
the Lord." 

The chief now invited us to go and reside with 
him at Rabbit River ; and in February, we did 
so, after having traveled three days. During these 
three days, however, we had often to shovel away 
the snow, build a fire, and spread the bedding 
without any tent over it. We awoke one morn- 
ing, and found the snow two inches deep on the 
bed clothes. We built a large fire, by which we 
warmed ourselves and boiled some coffee. Our 
bread was frozen ; but we thawed it, and made 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BO\VIL 161 

a meal. When this was over, off we started. By 
the way, I ought to have mentioned that I had a 
poney for Mrs. Copway and her sister, on which 
they could ride. Through the winter he lived on 
rushes, and browsed like a deer. The poor fel- 
low had to give out, about two miles before we 
reached Rabbit River ; Mrs. Copway, therefore, 
had to walk this distance on the ice, which great- 
ly fatigued her. On Saturday night quite late, 
we arrived at the shanty of Chief Hole-in-the- 
sky. In all our journeyings Mrs. C. was always 
ready and willing to endure every hardship. She 
neyer murmured nor appeared discontented. 
This, often encouraged me, and aiforded us much 
relief I record with gratitude, that God enabled 
her and her sister to bear up under the severest 
trials and hardships. We could have no earthly 
gain in view ; the grace of God alone, therefore, 
supported us by day and by night, in sickness, in 
perils, in storms, in fatigues, in despondency, and 
in solitary places. At Rabbit River we labored 
with considerable success ; but on account of the 
war raging between the Sioux and the Ojebwas, 



162 THE LIFE OF 

these two Missions, with that at Ottawa Lake, 
had to be abandoned. 

Note A. 

" 1st. The soil at the Credit is generally very poor, and, 
consequently, the crops are light, and this, in a great measure, 
discourages our people from becoming good farmers. The 
situation of the Credit Reserve is better calculated for commer- 
cial than agricultural purposes. 

" 2nd. We have learned, by experience, that living together 
in a village, whilst endeavoring to foUov^'- farming, is attended 
with many disadvantages, and loss of time ; it is therefore de- 
sirable, that all the Indians vv^ho wish to become planters, 
should be settled on their own lots. 

" 3rd. The evil example of many of the white people around 
our village, exposes our people to the temptation of drinking 
fire-water, and of committing other vices. 

*' 4th. We are of opinion, that, if we go and settle on a 
good tract of land, many of our young men, who are now 
spending their time in idleness, would be induced to become 
industrious, and attend to their farming." 



Note B, 

" Government House. ) 
" Kingston, 2'2nd July, 1841. ) 

•' My Lord, 

" I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your de- 
spatch of the 1st instant, No. 393, on the subject of the Indian 
Department in Canada. I beg to assure your Lordship that I 
have given the subject my attentive consideration, and I hope 
to be able to submit for your approval, a scheme for the conso- 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH- 163 

lidation of the Department. At the same time the matter is 
attended with great difficuUy, arising from the peculiarity of 
the duties which the officers of the Department have to per- 
form, the extent of country comprised within their jurisdiction, 
and, above all, from the system pursued with regard to the In- 
dians, which, in my opinion, is of the most mistaken character. 
All my observation has completely satisfied me, that the direct 
interference of the Government is only advantageous to the 
Indians who can still follow their accustomed pursuits, and 
that if they became settlers, they should be compelled to fall 
into the ranks of the rest of Her Majesty's subjects, exercising 
the same Independent control over their own property and their 
own actions, and subject to the same general law as other 
citizens. 

"The attempt to combine a system of pupilage vrith the 
settlement of these people in civilized parts of the country, 
leads only to embarrassment to the Government, expense to the 
Crown, a waste of the resources of the Province, and an injury 
to the Indians themselves. Thus circumstanced, the Indian 
loses all the good qualities of his wild state, and acquires no- 
thing but the vices of civilization. He does not become a good 
settler, he does not become an agriculturist or a mechanic. 
He does become a drunkard and a debauchee, and his females 
and family follow the same course. He occupies valuable 
land, unprofitably to himself and injuriously to the country. 
He gives infinite trouble to the Government, and adds nothing 
either to the Avealth, the industry, or the defence of the Pro- 
vince. 

" I have, &c. 

(Signed.) " SYDENHAM." 

" The Right Honorable 

" Lord J. RcssELL." 



164 THE LIFE OF 



CHAPTER XIV. 



In the spring, we were out of provisions, and 
had to fish for a living for about three weeks. 
Brother Spates taught school, and cousin John- 
son and myself visited the wigwams daily, for 
the purpose of singing and praying, and reading 
the word of God. They always received us kind- 
ly ; and soon their minds and hearts began to 
feel serious, and they inclined strongly towards 
Christianity. It was not long after that many of 
them professed to have made their peace with 
God, and expressed their determination to obey 
the precepts of Jesus. Here we must acknow- 
ledge that God " made us glad according to the 
days wherein he has afflicted us." We had 
" not labored in vain, nor spent our strength for 
nought," although we had to confess that we were 
unprofitable servants. While conversing with a 
chief upon the importance of true religion, he 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWII. 165 

became much troubled, and admitted that his 
own religion was not as good as the religion of 
the Bible ; but, said he, " I will embrace your 
religion when I shall have returned from one 
more battle with the Sioux ; and I will then ad- 
vise my people to embrace it too." What a 
struggle this poor fellow had within ! His name 
was Bah'goo-na-ge-shig (Hole in the sky). He had 
always been kind to me and mine ; in the spring 
he presented to me about eighty pounds of sugar ; 
observing at the same time, "I have brought this 
from the Sugar Bush to-day; you will require 
some for your family ; and I cheerfully give it." 

Brother Brace and his family now arrived from 
Prairie Du Chien. What tales of sufferings did 
they communicate ! They had traveled six hun- 
dred miles in the midst of winter ; and were ex- 
posed to all winds and weathers! But thank 
God now they were with us. Their clothes were 
almost in strings, and their children were in rags ! 
Expecting to find enough to live on as soon as 
they arrived, they brought nothing with them. 
Thank heaven we were just enabled to keep them 

and ourselves from starving. 

21 



166 THE LIFE OF 

The Indians desired us to visit several other 
places, and establish ourselves there. The whole 
country seemed ripe for the Gospel. It was 
thought best tliat Brother Spates and myself 
should go down to St. Peters, by water, and ob- 
tain provision. We were four days going, and 
on our arrival, a war party was just on the eve 
of departing for our Mission, where they intended 
to murder all the Ojebwas they could find. I 
requested Brother Spates to accompany me back 
by land, to inform the Indians of the intention 
of the Sioux. He said " there would be too much 
risk in going before the War Party." But my wife 
and sister were there; they, as well as my poor 
people, might be barbarously murdered. After 
repeated efforts to get some one to accompany 
me, but without success, I was determined to go 
alone. I trusted in the God of battles, and with 
his aid, I was confident that I could prevent these 
merciless and blood-thirsty warriors from imbru- 
ing their hands in the blood of my nation. I was 
ready for a start; and went to Chief Little-Crow's 
village, to tell him that I was going to the 
Rabbit River Mission. Not thinking that I was 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 167 

in earnest, or had courage enough, he said, " Tell 
Hole-in-the-sky, I am coming to get his scalp." 
This took place three hours before they were 
ready to march. In the midst of jeers and war 
whoops, I left their Mission house. They did not 
believe that I intended to go farther than Fort 
Snelling. As soon as I was out of sight, I began 
to run as fast as I was able. I called at the Post 
Office, which was nine miles from the Crow Mis- 
sion, got my papers and letters, and ran about 
seven miles over the Prairie, without stopping. I 
bought a pony on the road, of a Frenchman, and 
having no saddle, I rode but three miles of the 
whole distance. I tied my pack on his back, and 
made him run all the afternoon. In the night I 
slept without a fire. I was so anxious to get home, 
that I had no appetite for eating, the first two 
days. I went at the rate of about seventy-five 
miles per day, and arrived home at noon, on the 
fourth day ; having walked two hundred and forty 
miles, forded eight large streams, and crossed the 
broad Mississippi twice. My coat and pantaloons 
were in strips. I crossed the Mississippi just in 
front of our Mission house, and as soon as possi- 



168 THE LIFE OF 

ble, I told the chief that the war party were now 
on their way to our Mission, to kill them. I ad- 
vised him to lead away the women and children, 
which they did, and the next day they all left us. 
We, that is, my family, myself, and the other mis- 
sionaries, were now left to the mercy of the Si- 
oux. But they did not come, although they sent 
spies. Brother Brace, Cousin Johnson, and I, 
now ventured to take our families down to St. 
Peters. We left in a large bark canoe, and had 
only one loaf of bread, two quarts of beans, and two 
quarts of molasses. Brother Brace was so sick, 
that we had to lift him in and out of the canoe. 

We saw tracks of the war party, on our way 
to St. Peters. They watched us on the river, as 
we heard afterwards. We encamped about one 
mile and a half this side of their watching place, 
during the night, and did not know that they 
knew this fact, as will be seen in the sequel. 
They came and held a council just across the 
river from our encampment ; they could see the 
light of our fire. The war chiefs agreed that four 
of the warriors should swim over to us and take 
us all prisoners. One was to take the canoe to 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 169 

the other side of the river, to bring over the rest 
of the party. They were to kill me, and my 
Cousin Johnson. But the chief said to them, 
"If you kill these men, the Great Spirit will be 
angry, and he will send his white children to kill 
us, and our children." 

One of the warriors told the chief that he was 
a coward, and that he ought to have remained at 
home. To this, the chief replied, "I am no cow- 
ard ; and we will see who are cowards when we 
come in front of our enemies." Thus they dis- 
puted, and even quarrelled, among themselves, 
till da^^-light. The same morning, we left with- 
out breakfast, and on the morning following, we 
were beyond their reach. 

We saw where they had raised a number of 
logs, so that they might lie in ambush. I ought 
to mention, that we were perfectly ignorant of all 
their plans and actions, until we arrived at St. 
Peters. The chief, himself, communicated to us 
what has been stated above, in the presence of 
his warriors. 

This country, is, indeed, a dangerous place for 
the Ojebwa Missionaries; but not so for the 



170 THE LIFE OF 

whites, for they never pretend to interfere with 
them, in any way. 

Before Conference, and while I was obliged to 
be at their mission, for there was no other road 
for us to go, the Sioux tried to intimidate me by 
pointing their guns to my breast, and by flourish- 
ing their war clubs about my head ; they would 
say, " I wish you had longer hair, so that I could 
take a good hold of it and scalp you." I cannot 
describe mjfepJlngs, on this occasion, better, than 
by quoting, with a little alteration, from the 
immortal bard of Avon : — " they were so terrible, 
that they shook my soul, and made my seated 
heart knock at my ribs against the use of nature ; 
cold drops of sweat hung on my trembling flesh, 
my blood grew chilly, and I seemed to freeze with 
horror." I would often go and see them in their 
Tepees (wig-wams) ; this was good policy. They 
frequently showed me some of the scalps of the 
Ojebwas, and danced the scalping dance. What 
awful noises they made, as they danced in their 
fantastic dresses, with their fa,ces painted black. 
They reminded me much of his Satanic and fiend- 
ish majesty, rejoicing over a damned spirit enter- 
ing hell. 



K.\H-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 171 

During this summer, I accompanied Brother 
Kavanaugh to Sandy Lake Mission, at the head 
of the Mississippi. I returned by the Falls of St. 
Anthony, while Brother Kavanaugh went by the 
way of Lake Superior, he having business with 
the American Fur Company. When I arrived, I 
learned that the elder son of Brother Kavanaugh 
had been drowned ; he fell from a ledge of rocks. 
Sister Kavanaugh felt deeply, this mercifully se- 
vere dispensation. Brother Kavanaugh now ar- 
rived ; poor man ! he could not speak to me for 
some time. I met him some distance from his 
house ; he had heard of the circumstance, but 
had not, as yet, been home. " How unsearchable 
are God's judgments; and his ways past finding 
out." Yet, withal, in such dark hours, many a 
christian sees parental Love. Ah ! we may often 
exclaim, in the language of good old Jacob, " All 
these things are against me," but we may also 
say, God orders every thing for the good of his 
own. 

That summer we went to Conference, which 
was held in Platteville. I was then appointed to 
establish a Mission at Fon du Lac, at the head of 



172 THE LIFE OF 

Lake Superior. Brother James Simpson was ap- 
pointed school teacher. 

We traveled from the Sioux Mission up the 
St. Croix River, crossed over to Burnt- wood Ri- 
ver, and thence to Lake Superior. Having pro- 
vided food, I departed with Mrs. Copway and 
her sister, John Jacob, Massey, and Brother Simp- 
son, about the fifteenth of September. We were 
two weeks on the St. Croix River ; and part of 
this time I was so sick as to become delirious. 
I was just able to walk over the two mile por- 
tage to Burnt- wood River. The other men, there- 
fore, had to carry the large canoe the two miles; 
this was hard, but it was impossible for me to help 
them. We were now out of provisions. I have 
been told, by good authority, the following singu- 
lar fact. There is but one spring which forms 
the two rivers ; — the St. Croix which runs down 
to the Mississippi, and the Burnt- wood River 
which runs down to Lake Superior. 

In going down the Burnt- wood River, our pro- 
gress was slow. We were out of provisions from 
Thursday, till Sabbath morning, when we arrived 
at Fon du Lac. On Saturday, Mrs. Copway and 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 173 

her sister had a small piece of bread between 
them ; the rest lived upon hope. In the after- 
noon, we rowed about twenty-eight miles, and 
on Sabbath morning just at day-break we had to 
start for our station, Fon du Lac ; about twelve 
o'clock we arrived there, and saw John Lawn- 
dree, the trader, who was celebrated for his hos- 
pitality. I shook hands with him ; he asked me 
if I Avere sick; and said, "You look pale." I 
told him, we were all hungry, and had had no- 
thing to eat but a small piece of bread since Fri- 
day evening. " Ah, indeed ! " said he, " I will 
soon have breakfast for you." Mrs. Laundree, 
after a few minutes, had every thing necessary 
for our cheer and comfort. "While eating, I 
thought, that whatever might be said of Catho- 
lics, this was truly a Christian act ; and heaven 
will not let it pass unnoticed. 

In the evening I addressed a company of traders 
and Indians. I found the Indians in a miserable 
state ; the cause of which, I attribute wholly to 
their intercourse with the traders, the principal 
part of whom are notoriously wicked and pro- 
fane. I felt very thankful, however, that we 

22r 



174 ' THE LIFE OF 

were here ; yet I was filled with anxieties ; for 
how should I begin my labors ? Brother Simp- 
son and I, commenced by fitting up the old mis- 
sion house, formerly occupied by the Rev. Mr. 
Ely, who had taught many to read and write. 
The school house, also, was fitted up, and in it 
Brother Simpson taught, till the spring. Our 
prospects seemed to brighten up, and we had 
good reason to think that the Indians were glad 
to have us with them ; for they sent their child- 
ren regularly to school, and our religious meet- 
ings were well attended. During the winter 
several became seriously and religiously affected ; 
and in the spring, a few believed that they had 
experienced a change of heart. This encouraged 
us much. I can never forget the happy seasons 
I enjoyed, in my visits from house to house, and 
in the woods. I endeavored to seek out all ; and 
the good Master was gracious to me. I have 
often traveled about among them on snow shoes, 
weeping for joy. Often too, did I sleep alone in 
the woods, having had to dig away the snow to pre- 
pare a place to lie on. Though frequently hmigry, 
iaint, and lonely, I enjoyed the presence of the 



KAH-GE-(JA-GAH-BOWH. 175 

Lord, On one occasion I was sorely tried : — I 
accompanied one of the traders about one hun- 
dred and eighty miles, to purchase cattle for our 
place. I bought a cow for my own immediate 
family ; and in the spring, it was killed and eaten 
by the Indians. Had they been in want, there 
might have been some excuse for such an act. 
We expected her to "come in" in about three 
weeks, and her milk was to be our chief depend- 
ence. It was a cruel piece of work. After hav- 
ing traveled too, three hundred and sixty miles 
for the express purpose of obtaining her, and then 
to be thus deprived, was a hard case truly. Had 
she lived, many of the children of the Indians 
would have shared in the milk. When will the 
poor Indians be instructed in right principles ? 

From a long experience, and close observations 
among the Sioux and the Ojebwas, in regard to 
the hostile feelings existing between them, I have 
been brought to the following conclusions : 

1 . That Christianity and education alone, will 
check their malevolent and hostile feelings, and 
thus put an end to their bloody Avars. For this 
end, missionaries must be sent to both nations. 



176 THE LIFE OF 

2. That it is useless to send missionaries with- 
out suitable interpreters to assist them. 

3. That Missions should be established in the 
vicinities of the borders of the neutral grounds 
of these two powerful and savage nations; be- 
cause in these places there is but little, if any 
thing, to excite them to revenge. 

4. That wherever a Mission is once established, 
it must never be abandoned. 

5. That where any Protestant Mission is esta- 
blished in any village, no other denomination 
should establish another in the same place, or 
interfere in any other way. 

6. That missionaries ought to assist each other 
whenever they happen to fall in each other's 
way, or are requested to do so. 

7. That missionaries ought not to preach their 
own peculiar doctrines, to the disadvantage of 
other denominations; for this not only lessens 
their own influence, but likewise that of others. 

The scenery near the head of Lake Superior, is 
almost as splendid as that of the beautiful Hud- 
son. There is a magnificent fall about eight 
miles above the Mission. The Indians often kill 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 177 

moose, bears, and deer, in this region. In the 
spring, summer, and fall, they live on fish. As 
we had no salt, we were obliged to preserve our 
fish by hanging them on poles, with their heads 
downwards, and in this manner they would 
freeze. When the spring arrived, they began to 
thaw, and becoming soft, would fall from the 
poles. Late in the fall, white fish ascend the 
rapids, and can be scooped up with nets. In the 
spring, fish of every kind, and in great abundance, 
ascend these rapids. 

On the 9th of April, 1842, it pleased the Lord 
to bless us with a son. This was our first 
child — a fine healthy boy. We thanked God 
for his goodness and mercy in preserving all our 
lives in the desert, and while surrounded by sava- 
ges. I committed and commended him to God. 
May he live to take his station in the missionary 
field. 

Brother Kavanaugh was kind enough to visit 
us ; he returned by the way of Sandy Lake IVIis- 
sion. I accompanied him over the first Portage ; 
here we knelt down on the green, and worshipped 
the God of Missions. We now parted ; but I 



178 THE LIFE OF 

still hope to see this affectionate brother again, 
even in this world. But if we shall never meet 
on earth, I trust, we shall, in heaven, "where the 
wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are 
at rest." 

" Where we shall forget our sorrows and pains, 
And with our Redeemer in glory shall reign, 
Shall sing the anthems resounding on high, 
And bathe in the ocean that never shall drv." 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 179 



CHAPTER XV. 



We were often delightfully associated with the 
Presbyterian Missionaries at La Pointe, the Rev. 
Messrs. Hall and Wheeler, and their amiable fami- 
lies. Their benevolence and christian courtesy 
are above any praise that we can render ; but we 
would acknowledge that our hearts overflow with 
great gratitude whenever we recall them to mind. 
It was here that I became acquainted with the 
Rev. Mr. Boutwell. I preached for these beloved 
brethren several times, and we enjoyed sweet 
communion, and some thrilling seasons together. 

The Council of the Ojebwa nation assembled 
in this place about the first of October. The gov-^ 
ernment agent, R. Stewart, of Detroit, treated with 
them for their mineral regions, for which the 
Government gave them a large amount in money. 
From this time, I shall date the dissipation, mi-' 
sery, and ruin, of this part of our nation. 



180 THE LIFE OF 

1. Because it induces speculators to visit them 
yearly to sell their goods at enormous prices ; and 
their whiskey, which inevitably ruins both body 
and soul. 

2. Because it opens the door for all sorts of un- 
principled men and vagabonds. The miners, too, 
many of whom, are no better than pickpockets. 

3. Because, in possessing so much money with- 
out any correct views of economy, utility, or 
prudence, it becomes to them " the root of all 
evil" — a curse instead of a blessing. 

In these appropriations, the American Govern- 
ment have grossly erred. What benefit can the 
many thousands of dollars, which are paid annu- 
ally, be to the Indians, if they are not capable of 
exercising any judgment in relation to a proper 
use of money ? The fact is, that, at the end of 
every year, they are sunk into deeper degradation. 
I would now ask, what are millions of money 
without education ? I do not mean that an equiva- 
lent should not be given for lands ceded to the 
Government. No; but I do mean that this equiv- 
alent should be appropriated in such a way as to 
produce the greatest benefits and the happiest re- 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 181 

suits. If a certain amount had been given in cash, 
another amount in cattle and farmer's utensils, 
another in clothing, another in houses and school 
houses, and the like ; and with these, if a few me- 
chanics, farmers, and teachers, had been sent 
among them, the Indians might have become in- 
dustrious, intelligent, and useful citizens. One 
third of each annual payment would be sufficient 
to educate, and to supply all the wants of, their 
children. It may be supposed by some, that the 
white people, settled near them, give them good 
advice, and urge upon them the propriety and ne- 
cessity of appropriating their monies in the man- 
ner just suggested. Yet this is not only not the 
case, but these very whites, at least a large ma- 
jority of them, are continually laying plans by 
which they can extort from these unlettered and 
ignorant Indians, whatever they possess. I write 
not at random, on these matters. I am too well 
acquainted with them from painful observation 
and bitter experience. I have been present at 
ten payments ; viz. at Sault St. Marie, Mackinaw, 
Green Bay, Prairie Du Chien, and St. Peters. Du- 
ring these payments, quantities of whiskey were 

23 



182 THE LIFE OF 

brought to the Indians, or else, they were seduced 
to go elsewhere to purchase it. Poor untutored red 
men ! you were deluded, and made drunk by 
white men, and then in your hellish and drunken 
passions, you turned around, and imbrued your 
hands in the blood of your own relatives, and 
brethren. And were I to narrate some of the 
scenes which occurred among the Avhite faces 
(with black hearts), on these occasions, it would 
sicken the heart; nay, it would make mad the 
guilty, and appal the innocent. The very devil 
himself might shudder. 

It was now two years since I left Canada; I 
received letters from there, from the Rev. Messrs. 
Stinson, Green, and Jones, requesting me to re- 
turn home and labor with them. At first, I did 
not deem it advisable to go, because I felt under 
many obligations to those who had sent me to 
school for two years ; and had rendered me other 
kind services. But it was not until after repeated 
solicitations had been made, and money to defray 
my traveling expenses had been remitted, that 1 
consented. I obtained permission from my Super- 
intendent, Rev. J. R. Goodrich, to depart. F left 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 183 

La Pointe, Oct. lOth, in the schooner Algonquin 
for Sault St.. Marie. From there we took a row 
boat for Mackinaw, and at M. took a steamboat 
ibr Buffalo ; we now proceeded onwards and ar- 
rived at Toronto on the 28th of October. My 
wife's parents, and relatives, and very many dear 
friends were delighted to see us again, after an ab- 
sence of two years. We found them all well, and 
felt grateful to God for another expression of his 
abundant goodness and mercy. I spent much of 
my time in narrating the scenes we had witness- 
ed, and a full account of my mission. 

In about a month, I was sent to Credit river, 
(Mrs. C. remained behind in her father's family). 
Here I taught school till Christmas, when I be- 
gan traveling with Rev. Wm. Kyerson, on a Mis- 
sionary tour towards Montreal. We were absent 
about three months, and preached or spoke every 
day. We collected about a thousand dollars per 
month. The eloquence and piety of brother R. 
seemed to be duly appreciated wherever we went. 
He is the best platform speaker, that I have ever 
heard in the Methodist connexion. 1 had sup- 
posed, however, that he would be dull and mo- 



184 THE LIFE OF 

notonous; but this was far, very far from the 
fact. 

Having returned from this tour, to Toronto, 1 
was next appointed by the Missionary Society to 
labor at the Saugeeng Mission, in the place of the 
Rev. Thomas Williams. On this journey my wife 
accompained me. The distance was one hun- 
dred and sixty miles; and we reached there on 
the 12th of April, '43. On our way, we stopped 
at Goderich ; and from thence we took a canoe 
about sixty-five miles. 

I entered upon my duties as a missionary 
among the Christian Indians. I met with diffi- 
culties, for I could obtain nothing without money ; 
and even when a request was made, it was not 
met by the Society. I could not be convinced 
that it was my duty to starve, and therefore con- 
cluded I must leave. My Indian brethren step- 
ped forward at this time, and petitioned Governor 
Metcalf, to afford me a living from the Govern- 
ment. Their request was granted, and I was 
paid by Government $400 per year, for three years. 
I should have continued here, but the next year 
my services were demanded among my relatives 
at Rice Lake. 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BO\VH. 185 

In the summer, I took Mrs. Copway to Toronto, 
and left her at her father's, while I was absent at 
Montreal with the Rev. Mr. Jones. Here, we 
waited on the the Governor General, and present- 
ed our views, and those of our people, respecting 
the formation of a Manual Labor School for the 
benefit of the Indians. The Governor expressed 
himself as favorably disposed, but was too sick to 
take an active part in it. But before this, the 
Canada Conference had appointed Rev. P. Jones 
and myself, to visit the Missions, and ascertain 
how^much each Mission was willing to contribute 
for this object.* During this fall, Mr. Jones and 
family left for England. 

I returned to Toronto and took my family back 
to Saugeeng Mission. While on our passage, in a 
schooner, our little son, who was about three years 
old, fell overboard ; we heard him fall into the wa- 
ter. I ran immediately to the side of the vessel and 
jumped into the lake. The schooner was sailing 
quite rapidly, and had passed him about twenty 
yards. I swam as fast as possible, and saw him 

" The amount reported from the Indians alone, was $2,800. 



186 THE LIFE OF 

and brought him to the surface. As the waves 
were running high, it was with the greatest diffi- 
culty that that I could keep him above the water 
so that he could breathe ; and I was compelled at 
times to let him sink an instant, that I might 
breathe myself. I heard him cry, which was 
encouraging, for I was fearful that he was dying. 
At one time I almost despaired of saving either 
of our lives. I was about giving up all hope, 
when I saw the yawl boat near me, and I was 
told that I was just about sinking, when the cap- 
tain rescued us from a watery grave. The cap- 
tain, and all on board, were so frightened, that 
they lost some time in concluding what to do. 
Had they luffed at once, and despatched the yawl, 
two or three minutes might have been saved. 
But, I ought not to complain; our lives were 
spared, and thanks be to a kind Providence for 
his timely deliverance. I then gave him up to 
God, and prayed that he might be preserved, and 
be devoted to the cause of Christ. 

We now resumed our labors at the Mission. 
While at this station there were many hopeful 
conversions. A remarkable circumstance is, that 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWff. 187 

sink. When I reached the spot where he sank, I 
dove down about seven feet, seized hold of him, 
during the whole three years of my sojourn in 
this field of labor, I never knew but one single case 
in which fire-water was used. I must not omit 
noticing here, a very faithful teacher in my charge, 
Jacob Jackson; his influence was of the best 
kind ; he was also a very pleasant and interestmg 
singer. It had been but a few years since these 
[ndians were converted. They now have good 
farms, dwellings, school houses, meeting houses, 
and a saw mill. How wonderful are the effects 
of the gospel ! They also take delight in pray- 
ing, and in singing the praises of God. Had the 
American Government adopted the same course 
towards the La Pointe Indians, that the British 
Government adopted towards these, the same 
lasting blessings would have ensued. 



188 THE LIFE OF 



CHAPTER XVI. 



Of late, the General Councils of the christian- 
ized Ojebwas have been convened, and conduct- 
ed, in the same manner as public and other busi- 
ness meetings are conducted among the whites. 
The last General Council, which consisted of 
Ojebwas and Ottawa s, was held at Saugeeng. 
The chiefs came from Lakes St. Clair, Huron, 
Ontario, and Simcoe, and from Eice and Mud 
Lakes. The object of this convention was to de- 
vise plans by which the tract of land now owned 
by the Saugeeng Indians, could be held for the 
sole benefit of the Ojebwa Nation ; to petition 
the Government for aid in establishing a Manual 
Labor School ; to ascertain the views and feelings 
of the chiefs in relation to forming one large set- 
tlement among themselves at Owen's Sound, there 
to live in future ; and to attend to other things of 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 189 

minor importance. There were forty-eight chiefs 
present, from Canada West alone. Chief Saw- 
yer took the chair, and the writer had the honor 
of being Vice-President. Chief John Jones, of 
Owen Sound, was selected to deliver the opening 
address, in which he was to give an outline of 
the subjects to be discussed. The meeting was 
now called to order ; and after singing, and an 
appropriate prayer by Chief John Sunday, Chief 
Jones arose ; all was silent, and every eye was 
turned towards him. After rolling his small but 
piercing black eye over the vast assembly, he 
spoke as follows : — 

*' Brothers ! You have been called from all parts 
of Canada, and even from the north of Georgian 
Bay. You are from your homes, your wives, and 
your children. We might regret this, were it not 
for the circumstances that require you here. 

"Fellow Chiefs, and Brothers, I have ponder- 
ed with deep solicitude, our present condition; 
and the future welfare of our children, as well 
as of ourselves. I have studied deeply and 
anxiously, in order to arrive at a true know- 

24 



190 THE LIFE OF 

ledge of the proper course to be pursued to se- 
cure to us and to our descendants, and even to 
others around us, the greatest amount of peace, 
health, happiness, and usefulness. The interests 
of the Ojebwas and the Ottawas are near and 
dear to my heart ; for them, I have passed many 
sleepless nights, and have often suffered from an 
agitated mind. These nations, I am proud to 
say, are my brothers ; many of them, are bone 
of my bone, and for them, if needs be, I could 
willingly, nay, cheerfully, sacrifice any thing. 
Brothers, you see my heart. [Here, the speaker 
held out a piece of tohite paper, emblematical of 
a ^?2i?*e heart.] 

"Fellow Chiefs and Warriors! I have looked 
over your wigwams throughout Canada, and 
have arrived at the conclusion, that you are in a 
warm place; your neighbors, the whites, are 
kindling fires all around you [that is, clearing the 
lands]. One purpose for which you have been 
called together, is to devise some plan by which 
we can live together, and become a happy people, 
so that our dying fires may not go out [our nation 
may not become extinct], but may be kindled in 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 191 

one place, which will prove a blessing to our 
children. 

" Brothers ! Some of you are living on small 
parcels of land, and others, on Islands. We now 
offer yon any portion of the land which we own 
in this region ; that we may, the rest of our days, 
smoke the pipe of friendship ; live and die toge- 
ther ; and see om* children play, and be reared 
on one spot. We ask no money of you. We 
love you ; and because we love you, and feel for 
your children, we propose this. 

" Brothers ! There are many other subjects 
which we think ought to come under your con- 
sideration, besides those already stated. But the 
most important are : 

'^1. Whether it would not be better for the 
whole Ojebwa Nation to reside on this, our terri- 
tory. 

" 2. Would it not be well to devise ways and 
means to establish Manual Labor Schools for the 
benefit of the nation. 

*'3. Ought not a petition be drawn up and 
presented to our Great Father [the Governor Ge- 
neral], for the purpose of fixing upon a definite 



192 THE LIFE OF 

time for the distribution of the annual " presents," 
and the small annuities of each tribe. 

"4. Is it not desirable to petition the Governor 
General, to appoint a resident Indian interpreter, 
to assist the agent in Toronto. 

" 5. As we [the Christian part of our nation] 
have abandoned our former customs and ceremo- 
nies, ought we not to make our own laws, in or- 
der to give character and stability to our chiefs, 
as well as to empower them to treat with the 
Government under which we live, that they may, 
from time to time, present all our grievances and 
other matters to the General Government. 

"My Chiefs, Brothers, Warriors ! This morning, 
[the speaker now pointed his finger towards hea- 
ven] look up, and see the blue sky ; there are no 
clouds ; the sun is bright and clear. Our fathers 
taught us, that at such assemblies when the sky 
was without clouds, the Great Spirit was smiling 
upon them. May he now preside over us, that 
we may make a long, smooth, and straight path 
for our children. It is true, I seldom see you all ; 
but this morning, T shake hands with you all in 
my heart. 

"Brothers! This is nil I have to say." 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 193 

On taking his seat eighty-four Chiefs respond- 
ed, " Hah ! " an exclamation of great applause. 

Several chiefs spoke, and highly approved of 
what had heen proposed ; and expressed their 
gratitude for the kind offer of the lands. It was 
proposed to petition his Excellency the Governor, 
to grant and secure to the Indians, the whole of 
this territory. 

The following was drawn up hy John Jones, 
Jacoh Jackson, and David Wa-wa-nosh. 



The Petition of the Ojehum Chiefs, i?i General Council, respect- 
ing the unceded layids north of Saugeeng and Oioen!s Sound. 
June 5th, 1845. 

To our Great Father Lord Metcalf, Governor General of 
British North America, and Captain General of the same, 
&c., &c. 

The Ojebwa Chiefs in General Council assembled, humbly sheweth : 

Father — Your Petitioners having ceded a great portion of 
their once extensive territory about Saugeeng and Owen's 
Sound, and a portion of it having been restored to them since 
the treaty of 1836, by your Excellency's gracious commands ; 

Father — Your Petitioners are very anxious that the Re- 
serve (now still known as the Indian Territory), be a perpetual 
reserve, as a future refuge for a general colonization of the 
Ojebwa Nation, comprising the scattered Tribes in Canada 
West; 



194 THE LIFE OF 

Father — And that these lands may now and forever be open- 
ed to all the Tribes ; that whenever any Tribe is disposed to 
move, that they may have nothing- to fear, but have access to 
any of the good lands to settle upon ; 

Father — You have settled your white children on those 
lands that once were our father's ; we ask now to let us have 
the only remaining land we have, to ourselves, unmolested ; 

Father — This is the prayer of your red children; and feeling 
confident that you will give it every important consideration 
which it requires, j'our red children will listen to hear the 
answer of their Great Father. And they, as in duty bound, 
will ever pray. 

Forty-seven names, besides that of the Presi- 
dent, were attached to this petition. 

Never was I more delighted than with the ap- 
pearance of this body. As I sat and looked at 
them, I contrasted their former (degraded), with 
their present (elevated) condition. The Gospel, I 
thought, had done all this. If any one had told 
me twenty years ago, that such would be their 
condition, I should have ridiculed the idea, and 
set the narrator down for a fool or a maniac. This 
assembly was not convened for the purpose of de- 
vising schemes of murder ; plans by which they 
could kill their enemies ; but to adopt measures 
by which peace, harmony, and love, might be se- 
cured, and a "smooth and straight path" made 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 195 

for their children. I see nothing at present, to 
hinder them from increasing in knowledge, hap- 
piness, and usefulness, except the conduct of the 
Government Agents, many of whom are inimical 
to our nation, and often prove a curse to her. 

Several other papers were drawn up, and signed 
by the President, by order of the General Council. 
One of these I must be allowed to give, although 
it concerns myself. 

To ALL TO WHosi IT MAY coNCEKN. In the General Council of 
the Ojebvva nation of Indians. We, the Chiefs, of the various 
Tribes of the Ojebwa Indians, do hereby appoint, and author- 
ize our beloved brother, the Rev. George Copway, as our agent 
for the Manual Labor School, to procure subscriptions for the 
same, believing that this will be one of the greatest means, if 
established, of raising our young men, to become like our White 
brothers ; to learn industry, economy, and to gain knowledge, 
that we may become a happy and a prosperous people. 

Signed by order of the General Council. 

JOSEPH SAWYER, [l. s.] 

President of the General Council of the Ojebwa Nation. 

Saugeeng, July 4, 1845. 

I will also give an extract of my letter to the 
Rev. Mr. Wilkinson, who was then President of 
the Canada Conference, immediately after the 
close of the General Council. 



196 THE LIFE OF 

[Extract frovi Letter Booh, Page 151.] 

Saugeeng Mission, ) 
July 14, 1845. ( 

To the President of the Conference, Rev. Mr. Wilkinson. 

* # ***** 

The late General Council, have appointed me their agent for 
the Manual Labor School. I shall be happy to receive any in- 
structions you may think proper to give, on my way down [to 

Montreal], for I am anxious to see this going on. 

♦ *#**♦* 

I remain Yours, &c., 

GEORGE COPWAY, 

Missionary at Saugeeng. 

I give tliese, for tlie benefit and instruction of 
those, who have been so kind as to insinuate, or as- 
sert, that I was not an authorized agent to forward 
the interests of my poor people. Those who have 
been the loudest and most active in this slander, 
have done the least, in rendering the Indians any 
essential service. Let them go on, with their 
gossipings, while I go on my way rejoicing in 
doing all I can for my poor people, indepen- 
dently of the Canada Conference. Neither have 
I any disposition to court the favor of this Con- 
ference. Indeed, my heart has often sickened, at 
the divisions and subdivisions of the Canada Me- 
thodists. 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 197 

The speeches of Jones, Sunday, Taunchey, Mc- 
Ciie, D. Sawyer, J. Youngs, W. Herkermer, were 
excellent. That of John Sunday, particularly, 
was uncommonly eloquent. His keen black eyes, 
flashing fire ; and his large brawny arms extend- 
ed, gave great effect to his speech. As a matter 
of course, there were often differences of opinion, 
as well as warm discussions, upon various sub- 
jects; some would even feel that their views were 
not fairly treated; still, there were no unkind re- 
marks, no calling of hard names, no abuse, no 
ridicule, no insults, no threats, no intrigues, no 
blows, and 7io challenges to meet on the field of 
HONOR (?). The individual who had the floor, was 
never interrupted ; profound attention was given, 
and a death-like silence was observed. Occa- 
sionally, it is true, there was perpetrated a plea- 
sant, and innocent jeii d' cspiit; an example of 
which, I will give. 

During a protracted debate, in which Chief 

John Jones took a very active part, some facts 

were elicited, and some views were presented, 

which induced him to change some of his former 

opinions, and vote on the other side. One of the 

25 



198 THE LIFE OF 

speakers at the close of his remarks, referred to 
this fact, and observed, very good humoredly, 
"If he wishes to be like a fah 'wm'ni icithout a 
head — capable of moving forwards or backwards, 
let him alone." 

I have often been asked the question, "What 
is the reason that the Indians are diminishing in 
numbers in the midst of their white neighbors?" 
To state all that might be said in replying to this 
question, would require almost a separate volume. 
But the following are a few of the principal rea- 
sons: — 

1. The introduction of King Alcohol among 
them. 

2. The introduction of new diseases, produced 
by their intercourse with the whites; and by 
adopting their intemperate habits. 

3. Their inability to pursue that course of liv- 
ing, after abandoning their wigwams, which 
tends to health and old age. 

4. Their spirits are broken down in conse- 
quence of seeing that their 7^ace are becoming 
homeless, friendless, moneyless, and trodden 
down by the whites. 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 199 

5. Their future prospects are gloomy and cheer- 
less — enough to break down the noblest spirits. 

There are many other reasons which could be 
assigned for their diminution. But are not these 
sufficient of themselves to crush and exterminate 
even any icliite race, if not protected and defended 
by friends and wholesome laws ? Our people have 
been driven from their homes, and have been ca- 
joled out of the few sacred spots where the bones 
of their ancestors and children lie ; and where 
they themselves expected to lie, when released 
from the trials and troubles of life. Were it possible 
to reverse the order of things, by placing the whites 
in the same condition, how long would it be en- 
dured ? There is not a white man, who deserves 
the name of man, that would not rather die, than 
be deprived of his home, and driven from the 
graves of his relatives. "Oh shame, where is 
thy blush !" 

With all the wholesome and enlightened laws ; 
with all the advantages and privileges of the glori- 
ous Gospel, that shines so richly and brightly all 
around the white man; the poor ignorant In- 
dians are compelled, at the point of the bayonet. 



200 THE LIFE OF 

to forsake the sepulchres of those most dear to 
them, and to retire to a strange land, where there 
is no inhabitant to welcome them ! ! ! May the 
day soon dawn, when Justice will take her seat 
upon the throne. 

If I did not think that there were some who are 
alive to the interests of my people, and often 
shed a tear for them; if I did not think that I 
could discover a gleam of light and hope in the 
future, "I should of all men be most miserable;" 
" Surely the bitterness of death " would be " past." 
T look then to the Gospel and to education as my 
only hope. 

I will now state, in a very brief manner, what 
I think ought to be done, by those Avhose bene- 
volent feelings lead them to commiserate the 
condition of the Aborigines of America. 

1. They should establish missions and high 
schools wherever the whites have frequent inter- 
course with them. 

2. They should use their influence, as soon as 
the Indians are well educated, and understand 
the laws of the land, to have them placed on the 
same footing as the whites, 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 201 

3. They should try to procure for them a ter- 
ritorial or district government, so that they may 
represent their own nation. 

4. They should obtain for them, deeds of their 
own lands ; and, if qualified, according to law, 
urge their right to vote. 

The Indians will be sure to waste and squander 
whatever they may receive from the American 
or British Governments, unless some, at least, of 
the above suggestions, shall have been put into 
practice. 

The Council was now dissolved. The Presi- 
dent, Chief Sawyer, proceeded to His Excellency, 
the Governor General, and presented the peti- 
tions, in the name of the General Council. These 
petitions, as we learned afterwards, were received 
with a simple nod ! of the head. O mercy ! is this 
forever to be our destiny ? Common humanity 
at least, might have induced his Lordship to 
speak a few consolatory words, if nothing else. 
Our reception was both discouraging and chill- 
ing. When we have a Press of our own, we 
shall, perhaps, be able to plead our own cause. 



202 THE LIFE OF 

Give us but the Bibky and the influence of a Press, 
and we ask no more. 

The General Council appointed me to go to 
Walpole, to present their address to the Walpole 
Island Indians, entreating them to embrace 
Christianity. I visited them in July. 



KAH-G'E-GA-GAH-BOWH. 203 



CHAPTER XVII. 



A GEOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE OJEBWA, OK 
CHIPPEWAY, NATION. 

As THE Ojebwa Nation are within the bounds 
of the two governments — the American and the 
British, I will give a separate account of each. 
The number of our nation, according to Drake, 
in 1842, was thirty thousand; and this is not far 
from the truth. The best work upon the Indians, 
however, is that deservedly popular book, by Col. 
McKinney, of New- York; the undoubted friend 
of the red man. 

I will now speak of that part of the nation 
who occupy places within the bounds of the 
United States. They inhabit all the northern 
part of Michigan, or the south shore of Lake Hu- 
ron ; the whole northern part of Wisconsin Ter- 
ritory ; all the south shore of Lake Superior, for 



204 THE LIFE OF 

eight hundred miles ; the upper part of the Mis- 
sissippi, and Sandy, Leach, and Red Lakes. 

That part of our nation who live in the British 
possessions, occupy from Gononaque, below King- 
ston, throughout all western Canada ; the north 
of Lake Huron ; the north of Lake Superior ; the 
north of Lake Winepig ; the north of Red River 
Lake, about one hundred miles. The whole ex- 
tent, therefore, occupied is over one thousand 
nine hundred miles east and west, and from two 
to three hundred miles north and south. 

There are over five thousand living under the 
British Government, and less than twenty-five 
thousand under the American Government. 
There are about five thousand of these who re- 
ceive religious instructions ; missionaries of diffe- 
rent denominations being sent from Canada and 
the United States. The Methodists were the first 
who preached to the Ojebwas, or Massissaugas (as 
they are frequently called). They commenced 
at Credit River, in Canada West, in 1824, and 
at Grape island, in 1827. The conversion of 
some of the Ojebwas commenced during those 
years. Native teachers were then sent to their 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 205 

brethren in the West, where the influence of 
Christianity is still felt. There are twenty-three 
Methodist Missionary Stations ; six of which, are 
in the States, and the remainder in Canada. There 
are four Presbyterian Missions, all of which are 
in the States ; viz. La Pointe, Bad River, Leach 
Lake, and Red Lake. There are seven Episco- 
palian Mission Stations ; all of which are in Ca- 
nada, except one, which is at Green Bay. There 
are two Baptist Mission Stations, one at Sault St. 
Marie, and the other at Green Bay. The Roman 
Catholics have their missionaries in nearly all 
the principal places in the west. 

Those who are not under religious instruction, 
although accessible, are wandering without the 
gospel. There is a field in the Territory of Wis- 
consin where missionaries should be sent. There 
are Indians all around the shores of Lake Supe- 
rior who have, from time to time, called for mis- 
sionaries, and have not yet been supplied. The 
Hudson's Bay Company have, of late, adopted a 
plan which in my opinion does them much cre- 
dit ; they employ missionaries to give instruction 

to the Indians and their children in the principles 

2'6 



206 THE LIFE OF 

of Christianity. There are persons who once be- 
longed to other nations, who now live in the ter- 
ritory of the Ojebwas. 

The present state of the christianized Ojebwas 
is such, that they are fully ripe for greater ad- 
vancement in religion, literature, and the arts and 
sciences. Multitudes have left their wigwams, 
their woods, and the chase, and are now endea- 
voring to tread in the footsteps of worthy white 
men. The reasons for all this, are the follow- 
ing: 

1. Their chiefs have seen the necessity of mak- 
ing a " smooth, straight path for their children," 
by appropriating as much of their means as they 
could spare. 

2. The rising generation are beginning to thirst 
for learning, and are cultivating a taste for im- 
provement more than ever. 

3. Native teachers are now being trained to go 
to their brethren, and preach to them in their own 
language, Christ, and him crucified. By this 
means the nation must be elevated. 

Our prospects as a nation, are becoming brighter 
through missionary efforts. There are many in 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 207 

Wisconsin, and at Lake du Flambeau, who have 
requested that missionaries be sent along the 
south shore of Lake Superior. The same may 
be said of those residing about Winepeg and Red 
Lakes. Much of the western part of Red Lake, 
is full of "the habitations of cruelty ; " for the 
Chippewas and Sioux are habitually destroying 
each other. 

I will here give extracts from the Report of the 
Commissioners, in 1842, to the Provincial Parlia- 
ment, relative to the Mission Stations ; also sub- 
join the names of the villages with their condi- 
tion, and the chiefs of each village, as far as I 
could ascertain them, which will show their pro- 
gress, and their present state ; and also those who 
have abandoned the wig^vam and the chase, and 
resort to farming for a living. 

1. Chippewas of the River Thames. 

The Chippewas and Munsees occupy a tract of land contain- 
ing about 9000 acres, in the Township of Caradoc, within the 
London District, at a distance of about tweniy-five miles from 
the Moravian village. It is only within ten years that the Chip- 
pewas have been reclaimed from a wandering life, and settled 
in their present location. The Munsees have been settled since 
the year 1800, on land belonging to the Chippewas, with the 



208 THE LIFE OP 

consent of that tribe. The present number of Chippewas is 
378, and of Munsees 242. 

The Chippewas and Munsees are not collected in a village, 
but live on small farms scattered over their tract. Some of the 
Chippewas are settled on surveyed lots of twenty acres each. 
This tribe occupies 76 log houses, and six wigwams ; they pos- 
sess 25 barns. They have 450 acres under cultivation. Their 
stock consists of 30 oxen, 27 cows, 44 heifers, 82 horses and 
colts, and 400 swine. Their agricultural implements include 
9 ploughs, 9 harrows, 23 scythes and sickles, 19 ox chains, a 
fanning mill, 4 wagons and carts, 7 spades, &c. ; they have a 
blacksmith's forge, and two and a half setts of carpenters' tools. 

JOHN RILEY, Chief. 

2. The Chippewas at Amherstburg. 

They all profess Christianity, and several of them are exam- 
ples of true piety. The majority are Wesleyan Methodists, 
and the others Roman Catholics. They have no place of Wor- 
ship of their own. They can command the means. The Me- 
thodist minister, however, who is stationed in the town of Am- 
herstburg, visits those of his persuasion every Sunday, and 
with the aid of an Interpreter, preaches, reads and expounds 
the Scripture to them. They also have a general Prayer 
Meeting among themselves, once a fortnight, and they meet 
occasionally more privately for social prayer ; some of them 
maintain family worship. The Roman Catholics attend chapel 
at Amherstburg, which is about three miles from their settle- 
ment. 

There is at present no school among them, but they have 
expressed their desire to establish one, and would gladly avail 
themselves of instruction for their children. When there was 
one, the attendance of the scholars was very irregular, but their 
ability in acquiring knowledge was in no way inferior to that 
of the white children. 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 209 

3. Chippewas of the St. Clair. 

These Indians are among the first whom Sir John Colborno 
endeavored to settle and civilize. Previously to 1830, they 
were wandering heathens like their brethren elsewhere, scat- 
tered over the western part of the Upper Province ; they were 
drunken and dissipated in their habits, and without either reli- 
gious or moral restraint. In 1830 and 31, a number of them 
were collected on a reserve in the Township of Sarnia, near 
the head of the River St. Clair, and containing 10,280 acres. 
A number of houses were built for them, and an officer was ap- 
pointed for their superintendence. Their conversion to Christi- 
anity and their progress in religious knowledge, and in the ac- 
quisition of sober, orderly and industrious habits, have been un- 
der the care of Missionaries of the Wesleyan Methodist Society, 
both rapid and uniform. From the formation of the mission 
221 adults and 239 children, have been baptized and admitted 
into the Methodist Community. The total number up to the 
year 1839 — 40, does not appear to have exceeded 350. Since 
then their number has increased greatly by immigration, chiefly 
from the Saginaw Bay, in the State of Michigan, and by the 
settlement of wandering Indians ; and in 1842, as many as 741 
received presents. 

The Indians of the River aux Sables have about sixty acres 
under improvement, and one log house. Those at Kettle 
Point have twenty acres improved land and two log houses. 
The land on the Upper Reserve was regularly surveyed and 
laid out into farms. The Chief, with the approval of the Super- 
intendent, placed most of the present occupants on these lands, 
but it is not indispensable that he should be consulted, as the 
members of the tribe may choose any unoccupied spot ; when 
once in possession they are secure from intrusion, but repeated 
ill conduct or drunkenness would subject them to be expelled 
from the reserve of the Chief, 

WA-WA-NOSH, ) ^,. . 
SALT. ) ^^''-^'' 



210 THE LIFE OF 

4. Chippeavas at Walpole Island. 

These Indians are also known under the name of Chippe- 
was of Chenaille Ecarte. The Chippewas who have long 
hunted over the waste lands about the Chenaille Ecarte and 
Bear Creek, are a branch of the same nation which is settled in 
Sarnia, and share in the same annuity. 

The Poltawatamies are recent immigrants from the United 
States. 

The settlement at Walpole Island was commenced at the 
close of the American war, when Col. M'Kie, called by the 
Indians "White Elk," collected and placed upon the island 
which lies at the junction of the River and Lake St. Clair, the 
scattered remains of some tribes of Chippewas who had been 
engaged on the British side. Being left for many years with- 
out any interference or assistance on the part of the Govern- 
ment, they became a prey to the profligate whites settled on the 
frontier, who, by various frauds and in moments of intoxica- 
tion, obtained leases and took possession of the most fertile and 
valuable part of the island. 

5. Chippewas of the River Credit. 

These Indians are the remnant of a tribe which formerly 
possessed a considerable portion of the Home and Gore Dis- 
tricts, of which, in 1818, they surrendered the greater part, for 
an annuity of £532.10, reserving only certain small tracts at 
the River Credit, and at Sixteen and Twelve Mile Creeks. 
They were the first tribe converted to Christianity in Upper 
Canada. 

Previous to the year 1823, they were wandering pagans. In 
that year, Messrs. Peter and John Jones, the sons of a white 
surveyor, and a Mississaga woman having been converted to 
Christianity, and admitted members of the Wesleyan Metho- 
dist Church, became anxious to redeem their countrymen from 
their degraded state of heathenism and destitution. They, 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 211 

accordingly, collected a considerable number together, and by 
rote and frequently repetitions, taught the first principles of 
Christianity to the adults, who were too far advanced in years 
to learn to read and write. In this manner the Lord's Prayer, 
the Creed, and the Commandments, were committed to memo- 
ry. As soon as the tribes were converted, they perceived the 
evils attendant on their former state of ignorance and vagrancy. 
They began to work, which they never had done before ; they 
recognized the advantage of cultivating the soil ; they totally 
gave up drinking, to which they had been greatly addicted, and 
became sober, industrious, and consistent Christians. 

J. SAWYER, Iri,- f 
P. JONES, i ^^^^J^' 

J. JONES, War Chief. 

6. The Chippewas of Alnwick. 

These Indians were converted to Christianity in the years 
1826-7. They were then pagans, wandering in the neighbor- 
hood of Belleville, Kingston, and Gananoque, and were known 
under the name of the Mississagas of the Bay of Quinte ; in 
those years, between 200 and 300 were received into the Wes- 
leyan Methodist Church, and settled on Grape Island, in the 
Bay of Quinte, six miles from Belleville, where they commenc- 
ed planting, and where schools were established by the mis- 
sionary for their instruction. On this island they resided 
eleven years, subsisting by agriculture and hunting. Their 
houses were erected partly by their own labor, and partly at 
the expense of the Methodist Missionary Society. The number, 
at length, amounted to twenty-three ; besides which, they had 
a commodious building for religious service and schools, anoth- 
er room for an infant school, a hospital, a smithery, a shoema- 
ker's shop, and a building for joiners' and cabinet work. 

SUNDAY, \ ri- f 

SIMPSON. i ^^^^J^' 

G. COMEGO, Ch. 4- M. Liter, 



212 THE LIFE OF 

7. Chippewas at Rice Lake. 

These Indians belong to the same tribe, the Mississagas or 
Chippewas of Rice Lake, who ia 1818, surrendered the greater 
part of the tract now forming the Newcastle District, for an 
annuity of £740. They have all been reclaimed from their 
primitive wandering life, and settled in their present locations 
within the last ten or twelve years. 

The Rice Lake settlement is on the northern side of the lake, 
and at about twelve miles from Peterborough. The number of 
Indians is 114. They possess about 1550 acres of land, which 
are subdivided into 50 acre lots; of this, 1120 acres were 
granted in April, 1834, to trustees, " in trust, to hold the same 
for the benefit of the Indian tribes in the Province, and with a 
view to their conversion and civilization ;" and the remaining 
430 have been since purchased with their own funds. They 
have rather more land cleared than the Indians of Alnwick, 
about 400 acres ; but the cultivation is not so good. The vil- 
lage contains thirty houses, three barns, a school-house, and a 
chapel with a bell. The Head Chief of the tribe resides here. 
For some time these Indians were under the charge of an offi- 
cer appointed by the Indian Department, who assisted in their 
settlement ; but at present they have no special Superinten- 
dent. 

POUDASH, ) 
COPWAY, ) Chiefs. 
CROW, ) 

8. Chippewas at Mud Lake. 

The Mud Lake Indians are settled on a point of land on the 
Mud or Chemong Lake, sixteen miles north-west of Peterbo- 
rough, They are ninety-four in number, and possess twenty 
dwelling houses, with three stables. They occupy a grant of 
1600 acres in the Township of Smith, made to the New Eng- 
land Company for their benefit, in April, 1837, of which about 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-ROWH. 213 

200 acres are in cultivation. These Indians were for some 

time under the management of the late Mr. Scott, agent for 

the New England Company, and belong to the Wesleyan Me« 

thodist Church. A chapel is in the course of erection at the 

village, where there is already a mission house and a school. 

NOGEE, ) 

IRON, } Chiefs. 

McKUE. ) 

9. ChippEWAs AT Balsam Lake. 
The Balsam Lake Indians, ninety in number, are at present 
settled within the Township of Bexley, on a point of land jut- 
ting out into Lake Balsam, which is the most northerly of the 
chain of lakes, running northwest across the back Townships 
of the District of Newcastle. The Reserve which was granted 
'■-o them by the Crown, is 1206 acres in extent. Of this they 
have about 200 acres in cultivation. Their village contains 
twelve houses, a barn, and a commodious school-house, in 
which divine service is performed by a resident Methodist mis- 
sionary. But within the present year, (1843,) these Indians 
having become dissatisfied with the climate and the quality of 
the land at the Balsam Lake, have purchased six hundred 
acres on the banks of Lake Scugog, to be paid out of their 
share of their annuity, and are making preparations for remov- 
ing from their former settlement. Their improvements will be 
sold for their benefit. Their reason for removing evinces their 
desire to advance in the pursuit of agriculture. 

CRANE, Chief. 

10. Chippewas of Rama. 

These Indians formerly occupied the lands about Lake Sim- 
coe, Holland River, and the unsettled country in the rear of the 
Home District. Genaral Darling reported of them in 1828, 
that they had expressed a strong desire to be admitted to Chris- 
tianity, and to adopt the habits of civilized life ; and that in 

27 



214 THE LIFE OF 

these respects they might be classed with the Mississagas of 
the Bay of Quinte and Rice Lake, but were then in a more sa- 
vage state. In 1830, Lieutenant-Governor Sir J. Colborne, 
collected them on a tract of land on the northwest shore of 
Lake Simcoe, of 9800 acres in extent, where they cleared a 
road between that lake and Lake Huron. They consisted of 
three tribes of Chippewas, under Chiefs Yellowhead, Aisance, 
and Snake, and a band of Pottiwatamies from Drummond 
Island ; their number was about 500, under the care of Mr. 
Anderson, now the Superintendent at Manitoulin, who was ap- 
pointed to take charge of their settlement and civilization ; they 
made a rapid progress. The tribe under the Chief Yellow- 
head, now settled at Rama, were located at the Narrows on 
Lake Simcoe ; Aisance's tribe, at present residing at Beauso- 
leil, Matchadash Baj^, was settled at Coldwater, at the other 
extremity of the Reserve, the distance between them being 
fourteen miles. 

YELLOWHEAD, ^ 

NA-NAH-GE-SKUNG, f Chiefs. 
BIG SHILLINGE. J 

11. Chippewas of Beausoliel Island, Matchadash Bay, 
Lake Huron. 

This band, under the chief " Aisance," is the same which 
was settled by Sir John Colborne, at Coldwater. Their pre- 
.sent village, which is not very distant from the former settle- 
ment, was only commenced last year. It contains fourteen 
houses, and a barn : the number of the band is 232. They 
have about 100 acres under cultivation. 

The majority of these Indians are Roman Catholics. They 

have not as yet any place of worship, or school. In the former 

settlement they were occasionally visited by the Roman Catho- 

lii" prip$t, resident at Penetangnishene. 

AISANCE, Xru-r 

JAMES KA-DAH-GE-QUON, } ^^'^^''- 



KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 215 

12. Chippkwas of Snake Island, Lake Simcoe. 

This body of Indians was one of the three bands established 
at Cold water and the Narrows, and separated from them on 
the abandonment of those settlements. They now occupy one 
of the three Islands on Lake Simcoe, which were set apart for 
this tribe many years ago. They are 109 in number, and oc- 
cupy twelve dwelling houses. They have also two barns and 
a school house, in which their children are instructed by a re- 
spectable teacher, and Divine Service is performed by a resi- 
dent Missionary of the Methodist persuasion, to which these 
Indians belong. They have about 150 acres in cultivation, 
and are improving in habits of industry and agricultural skill. 
Their Missionary, who has been acquainted with them since 
July 1839, states that the majority of them are strictly moral 
in their character, that most of the adults are decidedly pious, 
and that many of them for consistency of character, would not 
suffer by a comparison with white christians of any denomina- 
tion. 

J. SNAKE, Chief. 

13. Chippewas of Saugeen, (Lake Huron.) 

It was from these Indians, and their brethren, since settled 

at Owen's Sound, that Sir Francis Head, in 1836, obtained a 

surrender of the vast tract of land lying north of the London 

and Gore Districts, and between the Home District and Lake 

Huron, containing about 1,600,000 acres. He reserved at 

the same time, for the Indians, the extensive peninsula, lying 

between Lake Huron and Georgian Bay, north of Owen's 

Sound, and supposed to contain about 450,000 acres. 

J. METEGOUB, 
ALEXANDER, ) Chiefs. 

AH-YAH-BANCE, 



216 THE LIFE OF 

14. Chipfewas of Big Bay, in Owen's Sound, Lake Huron. 

These Indians were formerly either wanderers in the Sau- 
geen tract, surrendered to Sir F. Head, or live in scattered 
wigwams, on the shores of Big Bay. According to the agree- 
ment then made with them, it was proposed that they should 
either repair to Manitoulin or to that part of their former terri- 
tory which lies north of Owen's Sound ; upon which it was 
promised " that houses should be built for them, and proper 
assistance given, to enable them to become civilized, and to 
cultivate land." 

JOHN JONES, j 
PETEK, i ^nzejs. 

15. Chippewas and others, in the Township of Bedford. 

Within a few years past, some stragglers from the Rice Lake 
tribe have settled in the Township of Bedford, about twenty- 
five miles north of the town of Kingston ; and recently, they 
have been joined by a band of eighty-one Indians from Lower 
Canada, belonging to the post of the Lake of Two Mountains. 
As the settlement is of recent formation, and the claim of these 
Indians upon the attention of the Department of Upper Canada, 
has only been brought forward last year, they have not yet been 
visited by any officer of the Department, and no account can be 
given of the settlement. By Instructions issued in 1843, they 
were transferred from the Roll of Lower Canada to that of the 
Upper Province, and, accordingly, received their presents for 
the first time in that Province. 

My beloved Reader — I am now about closing 
my narrative, and in doing this, there are but a few 
things to say. Throughout the work, I have 
confined my remarks chiefly to my own nation. 



K AH-GE-G A-G AH-BO WH . 217 

But it must not be supposed, on this account, 
that I am forgetful of my brethren of the other 
Indian nations. The prayers and benevolent 
efforts of all Christendom should be directed to- 
wards all men every where. The gospel should 
be preached to every creature ; and the field is 
the wide world. 

The Menomenees in Wisconsin, the Wineba- 
goes and Potawatamees in Iowa, the warlike na- 
tions of the Sacs and Foxes, the Osages, Pawnees, 
Mandans, Kansas, Creeks, Omahas, Otoes, Dele- 
wares, lowas, and a number of others elsewhere, 
must perish as did their brethren in the Eastern 
States, unless the white man send them the Go- 
spel, and the blessings of education. There is 
field enough for all denominations to labor in, 
without interfering with each other. It is too 
late in the day to assert that the Indians cannot 
be raised up out of their degraded state, and edu- 
cated for God and heaven. None need be dis- 
couraged since the Ojebwas in Western Canada 
have been converted. No language is adequate 
to portray the misery, wretchedness, and degra- 



218 THE LIFE OF 

dation in which we were, when the word of God 
was first brought and preached to us. 

It is not necessary to detail each, and every 
wrong, that my poor people have suffered at the 
hands of the white man. Enough has already 
been said in various parts of the work, to prove 
that they have been most grossly abused, peeled, 
and wronged. Nor shall I notice the personal 
wrongs that I myself have received ; and from 
those too, of whom I had good reason to hope 
better things. I once thought, that there were 
some things that I could never forgive ; but the 
reUgion of Jesus, and the law of love, have taught 
me differently. I do forgive them ; and may God 
forgive them and me too. 

I have sometimes heard it said, that our fore- 
fathers were cruel to the forefathers of the v/hites. 
But was not this done through ignorance, or in 
self defense ? Had your fathers adopted the plan 
of the great philanthropist, William Penn, nei- 
ther fields, nor clubs, nor waters, would have been 
crimsoned with each others blood. The white 
men have been like the greedy lion, pouncing 
upon and devouring its prey. They have driven 



K AH-GE-G A-GAH-BOWH. 2 1 9 

US from our nation, our homes, and possessions ; 
compelled us to seek a refuge in Missouri, among 
strangers, and wild beasts; and will, perhaps, 
soon compel us to scale the Rocky Mountains ; 
and, for aught I can tell, we may yet be driven 
to the Pacific Ocean, there to find our graves. 
My only trust is, that there is a just God. Was 
it to perpetrate such acts that you have been ex- 
alted above all other nations ? Providence in- 
tended you for a blessing' and not a curse to us. 
You have sent your missionaries to Burmah, Chi- 
na, the Sandwich Islands, and to almost every 
part of the world; and shall the Indians perish 
at your own. door? 

Is it not well known that the Indians have a 
generous and magnanimous heart ? I feel proud 
to mention in this connection, the names of a Po- 
cahontas, Massasoit, Skenandoah, Logan, Kusic, 
Pushmataha, Philip, Tecumseh, Osceola, Petale- 
sharro, and thousands of others. Such names 
are an honor to the world ! Let a late Governor 
of Massachusetts* speak for our fathers, when 
they first beheld the trembling white man : — 

* Edward Everett, Esq. 



220 THE LIFE OF 

" Brothers ! when our fathers came over the 
great waters, they were a small band. The red 
man stood upon the rock by the seaside, and saw 
our fathers. He might have pushed them into 
the water and drowned them. But he stretched 
out his arm to our fathers and said, ' Welcome, 
white men ! ' Our fathers were hungry, and the 
red man gave them corn and venison. Our fa- 
thers were cold, and the red man wrapped them 
up in his blanket. We are now numerous and 
powerful, but we remember the kindness of the 
red man to our fathers." 

And what have we received since, in return ? 
Is it for the deeds of a Pocahontas, a Massasoit, 
and a host of others, that we have been plunder- 
ed, and oppressed, and expelled from the hallow- 
ed graves of our ancestors ? If help cannot be 
obtained from England and America, where else 
can we look ? Will you then, lend us a helping 
hand ; and make some amends for past injuries ? 

It is often said, that the Indians are revengeful, 
cruel, and ungovernable. But go to them with no- 
thing but the Bible in your hands, and Love in your 
liearts, and you may live with them in perfect 



K AH-GE-G A-GAH-BOWH . 22 1 

safety, share their morsel with them, and, like 
the celebrated Bartram, return to your homes un- 
harmed. They very soon learn to venerate the 
Bible ; as a proof of this, I will give an instance, 
that came under my own eye : — While at the 
Rabbit River Mission, a chief from the west, 
visited me. After reading to him several chap- 
ters from the Bible, he said, with much surprise, 
" Is this the book, that I hear so much about in 
•my country ? " I replied, yes ; and these are the 
words of Ke-sha-mon-e-doo (the Great Spirit). 
** Will you not," said he, " give me one ? I wish 
to show it to my people." I told him, not with- 
out you first promise that you will take care of 
it. He promised me that he would. I handed 
it to him; he took it, and turned it over and over; 
and then exclaimed, " Wonderful, loonderfid! this 
is the book of the Great Spirit /" He then wrapped 
it up in a silk handkerchief^ and the handkerchief 
in three or four folds of cloth. I heard, after- 
wards, from the trader, that the book was still 
kept sacred. O, if my poor brother could but 
read and understand that blessed volume, how 

soon would Ins dumb idols be ^' cast down to the 

'48 



222 THE LIFE OF 

moles and to the bats ! " Will no one go and 
tell him and his nation, of the boundless, be- 
seeching, bleeding, dying love of a Saviour ; and 
urge upon them the importance of such a prepa- 
ration of heart, as will enable them " to give up 
their account with joy ? " The Great Spirit is no 
respecter of persons ; He has made of one blood 
all the nations of the earth ; He loves all his child- 
ren alike ; and his highest attributes are love, mercy, 
and pistice. If this be so, — and who dare doubt 
it ? — will He not stretch out his hand and help 
them, and avenge their wrongs? "If offences 
intist come," let it be recollected, that woe is de- 
nounced against them " from^ whom they come." 

I again propose that the territories of the In- 
dians in the British dominions, be annexed to that 
Government, and those in the American domi- 
nions to the Federal Union. And, finally, in the 
language of that excellent, magnanimous, and 
benevolent friend of the poor children of the 
forest. Col. Thomas McKenney, I would say, 

"I have already referred, in the commence- 
ment of this proposal to annex the Indian terri- 
tory to our Union, to those good men, who, in the 



KAH-GE-CiA-GAH-BOWH. 223 

character of missionaries, have kept side by side 
with the Indians in so many of their afflictions 
and migrations. I will again refer to them, and 
implore them by all the lost labor of the past, and 
by the hopes of the future ; by the critical condi- 
tion of the pacific relations that exist between 
the Indians and us ; and by the sacredness of the 
cause in which they are engaged, to look well 
and earnestly into this subject, and learn from 
the past what must attend upon their labors in 
the future, if the change I propose, or some other 
change equivalent to it, be not brought about. 
And, seeing, as they must see, that the plan I 
propose, or some other, is indispensable to the 
success they seek to command, I implore them 
to take up the subject in all its bearings, and 
by the instrumentalities which they have at 
command, manufacture, collect, and embody 
public opinion, in regard to what may be deter- 
mined to be done ; and by memorial, and per- 
sonal agencies, bring this opinion to bear upon 
Congress, with whom alone the power is vested, 
to redeem, disenthrall, and save, and bless, the 
remnants of this aboriginal race. And I make 



224 THE LIFE OF 

the same appeal to all the good, of all religious 
persuasions, both in the Church and out of it, 
and politicians of all parties, to second this at- 
tempt, feeble as I know it to be, to save the In- 
dians, and consoUdate, and perpetuate peace be- 
tween them and us, and by so doing, ward off 
the terrible retribution which must sooner or 
later, unless it be averted, fall upon this nation." 



Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process. 
Neutralizing Agent; Magnesium Oxide 
Treatment Date; "!^?Q7 

BBKKEEPER 

PRESERVATION TECHNOLOGIES. LP. 
1 1 1 Thomson Park Drive 
Cranberry Twp.. PA 16066 
(412)779-2111 




■^i 



J 



